Special Collections FAQs

  • General Questions

    The Boomerang collection offers customers the opportunity to borrow new, bestselling and high demand items when they first become available. The collection includes:

    • Bestselling fiction and non-fiction
    • Popular authors
    • Major Canadian titles
    • New movie releases

    There are no holds on Boomerang titles. Boomerang books can be borrowed for two weeks, and Boomerang movies can be borrowed for one week.  Boomerang titles cannot be renewed. We have regular copies of all or most of the Boomerang print titles and customer may place holds.

    Congratulations on completing your book!  To submit your book for consideration, please complete the Local Author Submission Form on our Local Authors Page. You'll find all the details you need to get started, including submission guidelines and instructions.

    Unfortunately, we do not have a service like this. However, the New Titles feature in the catalogue can provide you with a list of items recently added to the collection. You can also filter any search by format (book, eBook, DVD, etc.), Content (fiction or non-fiction), Audience (Juvenile, Adult, etc.) or Language in order to narrow the list down to items you are interested in.  Also on the New Titles page, there are lists available by subject and for the more frequently requested collections.

  • Toy Library

    Toys must be returned to the front desk at the branch from which they were borrowed.  They may not be returned through the drop box or the self check-in machine. Visit the Hours & Locations page to see our hours of service.

    Sorry. There are no holds or renewals on toys.

    The loan period is 2 weeks. If items are returned late the charge is $2.00 per day up to a maximum of $10.00 per item.

    There is a limit of 3 items per account.

    Currently the toy library is available at three Markham Public Library branches: Aaniin, Cornell and Milliken Mills Library.  All branches have toys your child can play with while visiting the library. 

    Yes. All ages can borrow toys with your Markham Public Library card.

    We offer a range of toys to support kids' development. We have toys that support and promote all sorts of skills including:

    • Building
    • STEM
    • Science & Math
    • Language Development
    • Reading & Literacy
    • Dramatic Play
    • Sensory Play
    • Fine Motor Skills
    • Music
    • Puzzles
    • Special Needs
    • Movement & Balance

    You can check out a full list of the current Toys collection in our catalogue.

    Children learn best through play. Play is one of the key ways in which both caregivers and libraries can help support a child’s early literacy development. We provide toys in our branches for this reason, and deliberately choose toys with educational value to support early childhood development and early literacy skills. These toys are heavily used and customers often ask to borrow them - so we created the Toy Library to let parents and kids try out educational toys at home.

    Toy libraries are collections of specially chosen toys that support children's early learning and development. We have toy libraries and the Aaniin, Cornell and Milliken Mills Branches. Toys can be borrowed with your library card from either branch. Customers can borrow three toys at a time, for a two week loan period.

  • Lendery

    Lendery items can be returned at any open branch during open hours. Visit the Hours & Locations page to their hours of service.
    To return items please call the branch to inform them you have arrived to return these items. Do not place items in the dropbox.

    There are no holds or renewals on Lendery items. 

    There is a limit of 3 items per account.

    The loan period is 1 week. If items are returned late the charge is $2.00 per day up to a maximum of $10.00 per item.

    Come in person to the Milliken Mills Library, provide a valid form of ID, complete the Special Collections Agreement, opens a new window with staff and agree to the Lendery Waiver form at the time of checkout. You'll be able to borrow items right away!

    Yes. Adults 18 years and older can borrow items from The Lendery with your Markham Public Library card. The Special Collections Agreement must be completed with staff and you must agree to the Lendery Waiver form at the time of checkout. 

    There is a selection of tools, sports equipment, kitchen equipment and gardening tools. Visit The Lendery page for more information. 

    The Lendery was initiated in partnership with York Region and York Region Makers, and is now owned and operated by the library. The Lendery is a collection of equipment and tools that customers may borrow at the Milliken Mills Library.  The Lendery helps customers to save space, save money, learn about a tool or item before buying it, repair and reuse, and divert waste from the landfill.

  • Bikes

    There are no holds or renewals on items from the Markham Cycles Bike Hub.

    The loan period is 2 weeks. If items are returned late the charge is $5.00 per day up to a maximum of $25.00 per item.

    Yes! In partnership with Markham Cycles, MPL loans bikes to Markham Public Library members.

    During the cycling season the Bike Hub is open Wednesdays 2:30PM - 6:00PM and Saturdays 10:00AM - 2:00PM weather permitting. The Bike Hub will be cancelled if significant rain or unfavorable weather is forecasted for the day of the event. Markham Cycles' Bike Hub is currently located in the Milliken Mills Community Centre, opens a new window rear parking lot and Centennial Community Centre, opens a new window parking lot.

    Upcoming events can be found at Markham Cycle Events.

  • Musical Instruments

    Instruments can be borrowed up to 2 weeks with no renewals. All musical instruments must be returned in-person at Markham Village Library.

    Available Instruments

    • Guitars including full size and ¾ and ½ size suitable for children
    • Ukuleles
    • Keyboards
    • Glockenspiels (xylophone)
    • Electric guitars and amps
    • Violins
    • Tabletop drum sets

    Visit Markham Village Library to browse our musical lending library.

  • Ontario Park Day-Use Pass Lending Program

    The overdue fees are $5 per day with a maximum of $25.

    Yes, the day-use vehicle permit provides unlimited day-use access for one vehicle and its occupants to all provincial parks in Ontario where fees are normally charged. Park capacity limitations apply. The permit must be displayed on the rear-view mirror or dashboard of the vehicle while it is in the park.

    If you lost the pass, the charge will be $99.

    You can renew the pass once if there are no holds on it.

    You can borrow the pass for 1 week.