E-books, 3D-printers, and education mingling computers and the classroom: these are the signs of the future for Toronto’s new City Librarian.
"I think it’s a really exciting time to be working in libraries," said Vickery Bowles, who will be starting the job overseeing Toronto Public Library on Jan. 5.
Bowles’ appointment to the post was announced Tuesday, Dec. 16, by the Toronto Public Library Board. She will be replacing outgoing City Librarian Jane Pyper, who retired from the library earlier this year.
The board conducted a national search for Pyper’s replacement, and eventually chose the 32-year veteran of the library system in Toronto.
Bowles got her start in the pre-amalgamation North York Public Library system, and after 1998 oversaw the Scarborough and East York branches.
But since 2007, Bowles’ major preoccupation as Director of Collections Management and City-Wide Services has been to oversee the growth of Toronto’s electronic book collection.
In 2009, the e-book circulation was at 180,000. Now it’s at 3.5 million.
"First the trend was toward the audiobook and then the transition came to ebook," she said. "It coincided with the increased availability of e-book services, when the Kobo became available and then the Sony e-reader. Once those really became available on the market, we saw a huge increase."
In her new role, Bowles said she anticipates the electronic collection will continue its growth for another five years until it plateaus. But she is anticipating a strong electronic presence in other areas as well.
She says the new Fort York branch will incorporate various digital services.
"People can come to the library to create content, whether through book content—you can do self-publishing—or different kinds of content, where you have a maker fair or a digital innovation hub where peole experiment with new technology like a 3D printer. I think there are so many ways where we can integrate new technology into the library."
In a statement, board chair Michael Foderick praised Bowles.
"Vickery brings a wealth of experience to her new role, as well as a passion for public library service and a deep understanding of the library’s role in strengthening our city," said Foderick.
"She begins her new role at an exciting time, and will be leading one of the world’s busiest urban library systems through a period of change as libraries continue to evolve in the digital age."