When the Barrie Public Library launched its $1 million ‘Branching Out’ private capital investment campaign to build a 15,000 square-foot branch library in addition to its flagship downtown location, GI was there with a significant financial contribution on behalf of the Georgian International Group of Companies and the founder’s family. This patronage established the naming of the Georgian International Community Room in the downtown public library and the Massie Family Program Room in the new branch library.
The shift from a single-location library in the city to a branch library system has made library services more accessible to citizens in all areas of the community. The Barrie Public Library boasts the highest percentage of its population using its library of any library in Canada. The Barrie library also has the most patrons per staff of any Canadian library and hosts the most activities per hour.