Media story

Mississauga Library’s impact extends beyond books

New report highlights the many benefits that Mississauga Library services have for residents

City services | April 16, 2026

An adult interacts with young children by exchanging high-fives during a group activity inside a public library, with many children gathered around.

Mississauga Library creates real value for residents through a wide range of resources, services and programs. Recent data from the Library’s Impact Report shows that every dollar invested generates $6.96 in value for Mississauga residents. That is more than six dollars in value for every tax dollar spent.

The report looks at how Mississauga Library positively supports the community through direct benefits and broader contributions. It uses the Valuing Ontario Libraries Toolkit (VOLT), a tool from the Ontario Library Service, and looks at 2024 service data and feedback from the 2025 Library Customer Survey. The findings show why library services matter to residents and help staff improve library programming.

Using VOLT, the report estimates the Library creates $236.7 million in social and economic value each year. That’s about $307 per resident. Here is what that value looks like:

Giving children and youth access to information, learning opportunities and programs
Supporting local economic growth through professional development, training and employment resources
Helping residents get involved in their community through local partnerships.
Offering space for residents to meet, study, work and play
Fostering inclusion and well-being through accessible programs and connections to community resources
Celebrating diversity through multilingual books, cultural programs, events and special collections
Encouraging reading, listening and viewing for enjoyment through print collections, online streaming, author interactions and creative programming

Mississauga Library is a valuable community space that supports learning, creativity and connection. It is a welcoming public space where residents can gather and connect through shared interests.

The Library Impact Report was developed as part of the 2024 Library Future Directions Plan. It also supports the City’s Strategic Plan priorities, including Belong, Connect and Prosper.

Highlights

Residents can enjoy many offerings available at the library, choosing the format that works best for their needs. In 2024, residents borrowed more than 6.9 million print and digital items. The Library of Things lets residents borrow practical items such as park passes, radon detectors, autism sensory kits and seeds. The online catalogue and Mississauga Library app make it easy to find and use materials.

Major events, including the Mississauga Literary Festival and Mississauga Comic Expo, bring the community together through panels, workshops, exhibitors and activities. The Mississauga Seed Library celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024 and marked the distribution of more than 18,500 seed packets over five years.

The reopening of the Hazel McCallion Central Library brought new spaces for residents to gather and access library services. In 2024, there were more than 28,000 room bookings and nearly 3.8 million visits across all library locations, a significant increase over prior years.

An older adult seated at a display table shares an illustrated book with an adult and a child inside a public library, with more books and small decorations arranged on the table.

Serving the community

As a community hub, the library offers programs for residents of all ages. In 2024, the library hosted 5,660 programs across all locations, from storytimes for children to workshops and classes for adults.

The Open Window Hub continues to serve as a key resource for residents facing barriers. It helped connect 1,952 people to housing supports and another 1,081 residents were connected to health services.

More to enjoy

The Mississauga Library offers a wide range of materials, programs and services to explore. Start your journey today at the Mississauga Library website.