MARATHON: When one speaks with Mitchel Hatton, librarian assistant for the Marathon Public Library, it becomes very clear that he is passionate about offering so many important services to the members of his community, especially those that requires access to computers.
Historically, the library has continued to struggle with acquiring sufficient funding for the electronic equipment needed, to enable it to provide the daily services that so many members of the community needs.
When it comes to how or when the library receives computers for example, the norm has been that the library receives donated tech equipment from organizations who are replacing their old and used items, with new ones.
“A lot of our library electronic equipment is donated from organizations from the community. But they do come to us with outdated software which causes us to redo all of them,” explained Hatton. “The tech equipment is essentially used and outdated, some coming to us with Windows Vista which first came out in 2007.”
Because of the age of the computers and other electronic equipment donated to the library, in order for these items to be usable for what the library needs them for, the staff has to work hard to reset these up to meet the software standards of today.
For example, explained Hatton, “Windows Vista came out in 2007, and Windows 11 came out this year. So, for us to refurbish them with the software needed,it is a challenge, because we don’t have the budget for electronic upgrading. It is an additional cost to the library,” stated Hatton.
The global pandemic brought with it even more challenges. It made it hard for the staff to update the software of these donated used electronic items, to the current software standards because so many of the programs that the community depended upon and that the library offered, required built-in cameras and microphones. Without these software updates, they could not use programs like ZOOM or attend online classes which were a standard requirement because of the pandemic.
“There is a lot more need for electronics now that there was before the pandemic; a higher need that what the library could supply due to building restrictions. We only have so much space,” added Hatton.
Hatton was happy to add that recently due to funding that they received from the Ontario Trillium Resilient Community Fund, the library was able to purchase five new desk top computers, something that they have not been able to do for over seven years; a time frame that represents how long Hatton has worked at the library.
This acquisition was so important stated Hatton especially for the community seniors who may have internet access at home but not the computers to use with it. Furthermore, the pandemic required that so much of what people needed, like accessing their banking, making grocery purchases, renewing health cards etc., had to be done online. Hatton reflected upon the changes that the pandemic resulted in especially with so many places closing and Service Ontario not being accessible for in-person services for so long.
“Beginning of 2021 we did receive the Ontario Trillium Resilient community fund and that enabled us to purchase the five new desk top computers and 10 new IPAD Air, which kind of gave us a cheaper option in the long run for the library,” stated Hatton. “These electronics are lent out to our seniors in the community who have internet at home but not the access to electronics. Especially during the pandemic, they had to learn how to do online banking as the banks were closed and how to pay bills, and renew licenses and health cards,” added Hatton.
As is true of so many libraries within the region, the library is becoming more and more what Hatton described as a “help centre” and because one can’t always go into Service Canada in person, it therefore requires that seniors go online. Many as Hatton explained had to be taught how to do this, which the library gladly did for them.
Becoming a member with the national program, the Electronics Recycling Association, (ERA) made it possible for the library to access more organizations who are willing to donate their electronics. ERA gave them the tools to access the organizations for donating their computers and once finished with these items and they no longer are able to be updated, the library can bring to a depot in Thunder Bay to discard them free charge.
“We are a lot more than just librarians,” stated Hatton.
They don’t have a TEC person. The library currently only has a librarian assistant, (who is Hatton), two summer students who are only there until Sept. 2, when the grant from the Canada Summer Jobs program expires.
When these students leave, it only leaves the acting CEO, Krista Hatton and librarian assistant, Mitchel Hatton, who has to care for half of the community’s tech issues and access to electronics.
According to Hatton, the library’s future, is still sustainable, even though most members of the community do not know about these challenges.
Everyday many low- income resident who are regular patrons of the library, come in to use internet and their facility. “We do also have lots of travelers,and tourists who use our meeting spaces for online classes. They come here because Marathon does not have a tourist information center right now; so they come to our library for all kinds of information about the region as well,” explained Hatton.
According to Hatton, the library’s future, is still sustainable, even though most members of the community do not know about these challenges.
As far as accessing future funding to help the library maintain all of its services, Hatton says they look to as many grants as made available to them, and that the strong usage of the library for summer programs allows them to show an increase in their usage numbers which looks good to the levels of government who provide funding, as well as to the community.
For now, Hatton feels confident that the library with all it offers community members of all ages, and tourists and visitors alike, will be here for a long time. “It’s hard to keep going on a tight budget but for now it looks like we are still going strong,” says Hatton.
