The Whitby Public Library Board has created a new First Nations Reserve membership for Indigenous people who live on reserves across Ontario, becoming the first library board in Durham Region to offer such a category.
The new membership, which was approved unanimously by the board, waives the out-of-region fee typically charged to non-residents seeking a library card. The move is designed to remove financial barriers and make library services more accessible to Indigenous communities throughout the province.
“The library acknowledges that this land is home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples,” said Liam Nichols, Chair of the Whitby Public Library Board. “Our hope is by removing access barriers for Indigenous people throughout Ontario, we are contributing to reconciliation and fostering an understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.”
The announcement comes as Canadians celebrate Indigenous History Month throughout June, a time dedicated to recognizing the rich history, heritage, resilience, and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples across the country.
Whitby Public Library CEO Rhonda Jessup emphasized that the initiative aligns with the library’s core principles of inclusion and access to information.
“One of our core values is intellectual freedom,” Jessup said. “Ensuring access to materials that reflect Indigenous histories and cultures represents intellectual freedom while fostering truth-telling and historical understanding.”
The new borrowing policy honours the library’s responsibility to ensure services are accessible to all while reducing systemic barriers and supporting Indigenous knowledge systems and perspectives. It reflects a broader commitment by public institutions across Canada to advance reconciliation efforts and build stronger relationships with Indigenous communities.
The Whitby Public Library has been a community cornerstone since 1911, connecting residents to welcoming spaces, ideas, information, and each other for more than a century. The institution operates multiple branches across the town and offers a wide range of programs and services for residents of all ages.
Library officials say the new First Nations Reserve membership is effective immediately and Indigenous individuals living on reserves in Ontario can apply at any Whitby Public Library branch with appropriate identification.
