There were approximately 950,000 borrowings of digital documents in 2020 by the Overdrive service, according to the director and librarian of the Saint-Boniface library, Danielle Robidoux. This compares to 681,500 loans in 2019.
<q data-attributes="{"lang":{"value":"fr","label":"Français"},"value":{"html":"C’est une très grande hausse pour nous, il y a environ 78000 items in the digital collection, the collection worked very hard “,” text “:” This is a huge increase for us, there are around 78000 items in the digital collection, the collection has worked very hard “}} “lang =” fr “>This is a huge increase for us, there are around 78,000 items in the digital collection, the collection has worked very hard, she says. It exploded.
She has not seen much variation in customer tastes since the start of the pandemic. In French, novels as well as comics remain very popular.
In English, detective stories and romance novels are still in demand.
The librarian notes that audio books are also growing in popularity. I think families are looking for a book to listen to together
, she explains.
The municipal library has done its best to meet the needs of Winnipeggers during the pandemic, according to Danielle Robidoux. During Code Red periods, for example, the library has set up contactless book loans.
To borrow a document, you must either reserve it online or over the phone, and the library will contact the client when the document is available, recalls the librarian.
She notes that while members of the public are no longer permitted to enter libraries, the librarians remain at their disposal.
People are encouraged to call us so that we can help them find the book for them at that time. […] One of the favorite parts of our job is connecting people with a book that will really meet their need at that time.
, she says.
New digital loan service in French
One of the new services put in place to meet the changing needs of the public during the pandemic is the Cantook Station service. (New window). This is a digital loan service that offers e-books and audio books only in French.
The free service, launched in June, offers documents for all tastes and for all ages
, according to a statement from the City. Thanks to the Cantook Station service, we can offer thousands of additional documents to the French-speaking community
, says Ed Cuddy, Winnipeg’s director of library services.
It is possible with this service to borrow up to 20 documents at a time, for a maximum period of 21 days, with the possibility of renewing a loan.
The service is so new that it is difficult to draw conclusions from the number of loans, but Danielle Robidoux ensures that there were a lot of requests and we really saw that people appreciate and use their library
.
Moreover, she points out that people looking for new products can access the list of books ordered in French. (New window) in the last three months
Some titles in French are also available thanks to the Overdrive service, which existed before the pandemic.
Danielle Robidoux’s favorites
For adults:
- <q data-attributes="{"lang":{"value":"fr","label":"Français"},"value":{"html":"La série de bandes dessinées The day when… by Béka. The illustrations are superb and they are very beautiful, touching and positive stories. “,” Text “:” The comic book series The day when… by Béka. The illustrations are superb and they are very beautiful, touching and positive stories. “}}” Lang = “fr”>The comic book series The day when… by Béka. The illustrations are stunning and they are very beautiful, touching and positive stories.
Detective novels by Louise Penny (Inspector Gamache) as well as historical novels by Jean-Pierre Charland are still very popular.
For the young :
- <q data-attributes="{"lang":{"value":"fr","label":"Français"},"value":{"html":"La série de bandes dessinées Ninn by Jean-Michel Darlot and Johan Pilet. The art of this fantasy / adventure series for tweens is amazing. “,” Text “:” The Ninn comic book series by Jean-Michel Darlot and Johan Pilet. The art of this fantasy / adventure series for tweens is amazing. “}}” Lang = “en”>The comic book series Ninn by Jean-Michel Darlot and Johan Pilet. The art of this preteen fantasy / adventure series is amazing.
- <q data-attributes="{"lang":{"value":"fr","label":"Français"},"value":{"html":"Les albums de Hervé Tullet. Nous venons de recevoir l’album Colors; it’s great for reading with young people, they are always amazed and think the images are magical. “,” text “:” Hervé Tullet’s albums. We have just received the Colors album; it is great for reading with young people, they are always amazed and think the pictures are magic. “}}” lang = “fr”>Hervé Tullet’s albums. We just received the album Colors; it is great for reading with young people, they are always amazed and think the pictures are magical.
- <q data-attributes="{"lang":{"value":"fr","label":"Français"},"value":{"html":"L’album Albertine Petit-Brindamour hates Brussels sprouts by Anne Renaud. “,” text “:” The album Albertine Petit-Brindamour Hates Brussels Sprouts by Anne Renaud. “}}” lang = “fr”>L’album Albertine Petit-Brindamour hates Brussels sprouts by Anne Renaud.
- <q data-attributes="{"lang":{"value":"fr","label":"Français"},"value":{"html":"Le roman jeunesse Twenty five minus one by Geneviève Piché, a very touching children’s novel. “,” text “:” The youth novel Twenty-five minus one by Geneviève Piché, a very touching children’s novel. “}}” lang = “fr”>The youth novel Twenty five minus one by Geneviève Piché, a very touching children’s novel.
–
