Five years ago, Brampton Library launched its first Local Authors Showcase to provide new and emerging authors in Peel Region with a place in our collection as well as a platform to connect with their readers. The annual showcase of authors and their books are featured on our website and promoted on our social media pages each year. I'm pleased to report that since its inception, 361 titles have been submitted to the showcase.

The Local Authors Showcase reflects our community with a range of literary genres, including local history, poetry, mystery, romance, children's and young adult books, and personal stories of triumph and tragedy, written in multiple languages.

From 2017 to 2019, the Library hosted an in-person event to unveil each collection. Many obstacles arose as a result of the pandemic, but the value of this collection to the community and to the authors themselves, motivated us to come up with new ways to keep it going. Last year we revealed the 2021 showcase via Facebook Live and this year we look forward to sharing it both virtually and in person.

The 2022 -23 Local Authors Showcase has 68 authors who have submitted 88 titles, 35 of which can be read on our cloudLibrary ebook platform. Brampton Library cardholders will be able to borrow these titles as of June 16 through our website, in-branch, or through the cloudLibrary app. For your chance to meet the authors and learn more about their books, be sure to join us in Gage Park at the Brampton Farmers’ Market on Saturday, June 18 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. 

I want to thank all the authors that submitted to this year’s showcase. Your creativity, passion, and dedication to tell your story is greatly appreciated. I would also like to thank Selection Librarian Julia Huang and all the Collections and Marketing team members for all of their work in preparing and promoting our Local Authors Showcase and these exceptional books through the years. Brampton’s creativity shines through thanks to the efforts of our staff, the authors, and the community that supports it.