By Marian Barnett
Libraries all over the province, indeed the country, are re-inventing themselves. Our little library on Meredith Street West is no exception to this trend.
A new look greets visitors this month—a sunny fresh paint job updates the children’s area, a popular spot for parents/grandparents with young book lovers in tow. Beautifully illustrated board books for toddlers to chapter books for mid-school children are displayed for easy access in the cheerful environment. The Beverly Cleary stories, Eric Carl, Richard Scary, Jeff Kinney, Tom Gates, all the authors that kids love are on the shelves.
The big new displays of comic books and graphic novels attract older children with such series as Star Wars and Guardians of the Galaxy. Ask about Free Comic Day (while they last). Of course, teens go for scarier tales like The Walking Dead.
Notice all the great new DVDs in the central stacks? Head librarian Jake Marion was able to increase the collection by getting surplus inventory from other libraries, a big savings for us. Be sure to pick up some movies for your family, oldy goldies and plenty of recent releases.
Books galore: “We have all this year’s Giller and Booker Prize nominated books as well as the Canada Reads finalists,” reports Jake Marion, head librarian. Interlibrary loan is a way staff can get the book you need even if it is not in our collection. In keeping with the times, many patrons now use Overdrive, a system for borrowing books for their e-reader. Staff can help you sign up for this service.
There is no longer a charge for computer use, although some people still like to make a small donation. This is in keeping with the mission of all libraries: to make information, whether in books or on the web, freely available to the public.
Summer residents are beginning to revisit the library this month, and are enjoying the new look. It’s always great to see them and the boating enthusiasts. “Numbers go way up from June to September,” says board chair Karen Nesbitt. “We can be proud of our library as it moves forward in step with the changing vision for community libraries.”
