FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2026
The Ex Libris Association (ELA) is pleased to announce that the W. Kaye Lamb Award for Innovative Services to Seniors recipient for 2025 is the Kingston Frontenac Public Library.
The W.Kaye Lamb Committee selected the Kingston Frontenac Public Library’s innovative Older Adults Hub, which operates out of the library’s Rideau Heights Branch located in a low-income neighbourhood with limited services.
The W. Kaye Lamb Award is named for Canada’s first National Librarian and is given biennially in recognition of library service specifically designed to meet the needs of seniors. The Award Committee members were impressed with KFPL‘s submission which detailed the impact of the Older Adults Hub. It was developed in partnership with Kingston Community Health Centres (KCHC) to provide an opportunity for older adults to learn, play, stay active and meet others and become part of their community in a positive way.
Key elements of the Monday morning older adults day program include KCHC-facilitated Seniors Strength, Fitness & Balance Maintenance Exercise Group, a café for chatting, and a Super Seniors Speaker Series. Other programs include the Library-facilitated Board Game Café, Monthly Book Club, Tech Tutor sessions and a mobile library that brings lending collections into the program space. Library staff reported successes beyond the program’s growth as seniors started to gain confidence and form relationships with each other and the program facilitators. Staff commented that the participants had found real friendships in the group. The ‘Hub’ model has provided multiple accessible programs that offer a variety of fun and free activities where they can meet with neighbours.
Pictured above is Kingston Frontenac Public Library, CEO Laura Carter receiving the W.K. Lamb Award plaque and cheque from ELA President, David Harvie and Donna Burton, selection committee member at the Ontario Library SuperConference Awards Gala, held on Thursday, January 29, 2026. (Photo credit: Yvonne Bambrick)
The call for applicants for the W. Kaye Lamb Awards resulted in a wide and varied response from libraries across Canada. Consequently, the Committee determined that the Edmonton Public Library (EPL) be acknowledged for their inter-generational program “Together We Grow” with an Honourable Mention Award.
EPL’s Together We Grow program expands the library’s services to underserved communities, reaching seniors who cannot visit the library due to mobility, memory, or other health issues while nurturing positive relationships between generations by bringing early literacy programming into retirement residences. This program provides engaging activities for seniors, especially those with memory care needs, and gives young children and their parents a chance to connect with another generation. By fostering empathy and understanding between age groups, Together We Grow seeks to combat senior’s social isolation and to help older adults find joy in interacting with the youngest members of our community, contributing to a more inclusive and connected community.
EPL CEO, Pilar Martinez and Youth Services Manager, Elaine Jones are pictured here receiving the Honourable Mention W. K. Lamb award and cheque from ELA President, David Harvie, member Carmen Konigsreuther Socknat and Treasurer Bob Henderson at the Ontario Library SuperConference on Thursday, January 29th . (Photo credit, Todd Kyle, W. Kaye Lamb Award Committee member)
Ex Libris Association (ELA) congratulate Kingston Frontenac Public Library and Edmonton Public Library on being successful recipients of the 2025 W. Kaye Lamb Awards through their well -developed programs that foster learning and connection for seniors and older adults in their communities.
We thank all libraries who expressed interest in the award in 2025 and for their continuing work in providing excellent and innovative services to seniors and older adults.
To learn more about the award, please visit:
https://www.exlibris.ca
For more information contact:
Christina Wilson, Chair, W. Kaye Lamb Award Committee
exlibrisaward@gmail.com