Tiny Township residents can again continue their patronage of a neighbouring library.
The township announced it has established a new library services agreement with the Penetanguishene Public Library for 2025, adding to resident choice since the township already had agreements in place with libraries in Midland, Springwater and Wasaga Beach.
“These agreements are between the township and the specific library to provide seamless services for our residents and will not require any money to be paid upfront by residents at these three locations to obtain a library membership,” the township notes in a release.
The saga of Tiny residents being able to get a membership in Penetanguishene read like the pages of a pulp-fiction novella.
The dispute began in one of the first Penetanguishene council meetings for the new term in 2022, where appointees were made to various municipal boards; instead of going with the historic verbal agreement over three decades, Penetanguishene council chose to appoint their own Tiny representative.
An ongoing back and forth on the issue followed for more than a year with the two councils sparring with one another over a potential agreement.
In a MidlandToday story last March, both Tiny Mayor Dave Evans and CAO Robert Lamb described the situation as “perplexing.”
Evans emphasized that the matter was between Tiny Township and the Penetanguishene Library Board, but added that it “essentially came down to somebody changing the agreement that we had in place for over 30 years – unilaterally – and not giving us any choice on this.”
Evans’ words were barbed, stressing that “Tiny Township didn’t start this fight.”
And while the fight appears to be over, Pentanguishene Public Library officials are welcoming back Tiny residents and noted the move will provide "seamless services" for residents with no upfront costs.
"It's time to renew or join the library for free," the organization noted.
For Wasaga Beach, however, residents will need to pay and seek reimbursement for the membership fee from the township.
“Staff will continue to work with Wasaga Beach’s library team and hope to establish a similar agreement,” the township added.
As well, it’s important to note that residents can choose one library per household, and all members of that household can go to that library.
“Library memberships are limited to one per household in total, not a membership at each library,” Tiny said.
For more information about library services, click here.
