Welcome, bienvenue, bienvenida, boozhoo, أهلا وسهلا to the County’s libraries

At the County of Prince Edward Public Library we’re committed to ensuring that everyone’s voices are heard. One of the library’s goals, as expressed in the 2025-30 Strategic Plan is to “welcome and celebrate diverse backgrounds, perspectives, cultures and experiences.”

One way we’re working toward this goal is with our new authors series, in recognition and celebration of Pride Month and Canadian Multiculturalism Day. Thanks to the Huff Family Fund through the County Foundation, we have a three-year plan to offer this series each year in June.

We’ve already hosted two children’s authors, Sylv Chiang and Willie Poll, as well as poet Ashley Elizabeth Best.

The next author in the series is Martha Bátiz, a Mexican-Canadian writer who will join us at the Picton Branch Library in conversation with Dorothy Speirs-Vincent.

Martha’s new book, A Daughter’s Place is a sweeping historical romance. Author Kim Echlin said about the book that the author “reinvents the untold stories of the women around Miguel de Cervantes and they are as ingenious as the sad knight himself.” This talk, to be held Thursday, June 19 at 7 p.m. is sure to be a thought provoking one.

Saad Omar Khan is to join us on Thursday, June 26 at 7 p.m. to discuss his book, Drinking the Ocean. Moving between Lahore, London and Toronto, Drinking the Ocean is a story of connections lost and found and of the many kinds of love that shape a life, whether familial, romantic or spiritual. As Murad’s and Sofi’s lives touch and separate, we see them encounter challenges with relationships, family and God, and struggle with the complexities facing Muslims in the West.

Another way the library is working to celebrate diverse backgrounds is by the new multi-language collection of children’s books made possible by the Vital Impact Fund of the County Foundation. These books are now beginning to arrive and will all be available at the Picton Branch Library or can be sent to any branch on request.

Thanks to Quinte Immigration Services and educators at local schools, we have identified several languages that are spoken by families in our community and are purchasing books in those languages. These languages include Spanish, Russian, Anishinaabemowin, Cantonese and Syrian Arabic. Whenever possible we are choosing books that are in two languages, for example Spanish and English, to ensure that as many people as possible can enjoy the books. If you have suggestions for languages you would like to be able to access at your library, you can reach me directly by email liz@peclibrary.org or ask at your local branch.
Our thanks to the County Foundation and the Huff Family Fund for helping the Library continue to serve the community.