On Friday, October 24, Lincoln Pelham Public Library (LPPL) welcomed community members to the Fonthill Branch to celebrate the installation of new shelving and the launch of a $2.5 million fundraising campaign to renovate the nearly forty-year-old branch at its existing location at 43 Pelham Town Square in Fonthill.  

Thanks to a generous lead gift from Pelham residents Paul and Bernadette Coyne, the Fonthill Branch will be renamed the Coyne Family Branch, honouring the family’s deep commitment to learning, connection, and community.  

“It’s a great thing because it helps people who want to educate themselves—the young, the old, people with disabilities, academic types, anybody who is self-motivated,” said Paul Coyne. “I can’t think of a better place to start than the library.”  

Pelham Regional Councillor Wayne Olson and local author and longtime library volunteer Yvonne Van Lankveld will serve as co-chairs on The Next Chapter campaign cabinet. 

The renovation will unfold in two phases:  

• Phase One ($1.5M – slated for spring 2026, and fully funded by the Town of Pelham) will introduce a new accessible entrance, an expanded program room, and upgraded AODA-compliant restrooms.  

• Phase Two ($2.5M – fundraising underway) will transform the main floor layout, add a passenger elevator for barrier-free access to the basement, and revitalize the lower level with meeting rooms, staff spaces, and dedicated local history storage.  

Thanks to the generosity of early donors, the Next Chapter campaign has a revised fundraising goal of $1.7 million. Learn more and donate today: lppl.ca/fonthillreno. 
 
For further information, please contact: 

Julie Andrews, CEO/Chief Librarian 
Lincoln Pelham Public Library 
905-563-7014 
jandrews@lppl.ca