The Komoka Library also has a soundproof room with glass walls. Anyone with children can have a private job interview or meeting while watching their children. Komoka Library staff are especially adept at bringing their corner alive with unique programs like Komoka Koffee House, Tech Time, Stitch ‘N Chat, Monday Moments, Beginner Chair Pilates, Come Get Spicy, and their latest program, “In a Jam or in a Pickle.” “We focus on patron feedback,” explains Vanessa Gay, Branch Supervisor. “If they mention a certain topic or issue, we try addressing it with a program.” In a Jam or in a Pickle is a great example, Lynn adds. “People who took advantage of the spring Seeds program were growing tons of vegetables, but didn’t know what to do with them. So, we created a program that teaches you how to preserve homegrown produce.” While all Middlesex County Library branches offer creative programming, what makes the Komoka Library special, at least to the staff who work there, is the community itself. “Residents of Komoka-Kilworth are highly participatory,” Lynn shares. “They love attending and supporting our programs.” It’s that organic relationship between staff and residents, building relationships and connecting community, that lies at the heart of the Komoka Library. “This is what the Komoka-Kilworth community is like to begin with,” adds Vanessa. “They come here highly invested in us, and it’s reciprocated.” For more information, visit www.library.middlesex.ca or call 519-657-1461.
Building Relationships, Connecting Community Sitting in an unassuming corner of the YMCA Wellness Centre and the Komoka Arena at 1 Tunks Lane, amid the bustle of gym goers and hockey players, is a hub connecting the community to research sources, job resources, the Internet, the daily news, each other, and, yes, even a good read. For many, the quaint, welcoming space of the Komoka Library is like a second home. Described by one patron as “bartenders with books,” the staff greet everyone with genuine smiles and
From the left, sitting down: Caitlyn and Lynn. From left standing: Karen, Nathan, and Vanessa.
take the time to ask your name, get to know you, and check on how you’re doing. If you’re a regular, they will likely ask about something you shared last time you were in. “One patron wanted us to be the first to know that their partner was in the hospital,” shares Lynn Boaz-Watson, Branch Assistant. “Our patrons are like family. If we’re concerned, we call them. Send a card. Ask how they’re doing when we see them.” The space is as welcoming as its staff, with a bright open concept, cozy reading nooks, and an area that invites children to play, move, and explore. Besides the obvious selection of books, there are computers to access the Internet, the London Free Press for anyone to read, a program room for the community to use, and even the warm glow of a fireplace.
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Page 17 KKD Villager September 2025
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