Nova Scotia Celebrates Canadian Library Week

Nova Scotians of all ages can join in a variety of events being held throughout the province to mark Canadian Library Week, Oct. 17-24.

Activities include Read to Me! jamborees -- intended to get more parents and caregivers to read to their children; outreach programs designed to show more people what resources their public library has available; and promotion of online resources.

This year, for the first time, Canadians across the country will observe Canadian Library Week at the same time. The theme for the national event is Lifelong Libraries: Discover Us.

"Public libraries are repositories of knowledge, heritage and culture, and an enabler of learning, creativity and imagination," said Education Minister Jamie Muir. "Libraries are the institutions in our society that literally offer something for everyone."

Nova Scotians made more than 5.7-million trips to local libraries last year, borrowing about 6.9-million books, talking books, DVDs and other items. This is an 18 per cent increase in library visits since 2002.

"As a new grandparent, an educator, and a person who enjoys reading, I appreciate the positive impact libraries can have on a person's learning and on their life," said Mr. Muir. "Drop by your local library this week and discover all it has to offer."

Public libraries play an important role in promoting literacy and lifelong learning.

"Libraries of the 21st century are dynamic centres of lifelong learning, continuously responding to the ever changing world of information," said Jennifer Evans, Nova Scotia's provincial librarian.

"The public library welcomes people of all ages and all walks of life. The free library card is an incredible value -- use it to discover the many powerful library resources at your fingertips in Nova Scotia," she said.

Ms. Evans points to the recent acquisition of World Book Online by Nova Scotia public libraries as a prime example of how libraries are evolving. Anyone with a Nova Scotia public library card can access the online encyclopaedia, and many other databases and online resources, regardless of whether they are in a library, at home, in a Community Access Program (CAP) site, or at work.

World Book Online is available on public library websites. A list of local public libraries can be found online at publiclibraries.ns.ca .

The Nova Scotia public library system currently has nine regional public libraries with a network of branches and bookmobiles to provide a variety of services to all Nova Scotians. Regional libraries are funded jointly by the government of Nova Scotia and participating municipal councils.

For more information about Canadian Library Week, visit publiclibraries.ns.ca or www.cla.ca/clw/index.htm .

NOTE: The following information is subject to change. Please contact your local public library for more information.

Canadian Library Week Events in Nova Scotia

Wednesday, Oct. 19 Cape Breton Regional Library staff will have a booth at Cape Breton University to promote the library and sign up new members.

Halifax Public Libraries: Keshen Goodman Library -- will host Appreciating Art at 7 p.m. Have you ever wondered what, exactly, you are supposed to be looking for when you see a painting in an art gallery? Join Peggy MacKinnon of the Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery for an exciting visual tour of some of the world's greatest portraits and what makes them masterpieces. For more information, call 902-490-6410.

Halifax Public Libraries: Sheet Harbour Library -- will look at reversing the aging process at 6:30 p.m. Karyn Stacey-Bonang, fitness co-ordinator at the Seaside Fitness Centre in Sheet Harbour, will discuss how fitness affects the aging process. Learn how to improve your health and feel younger. For more information or to register, call 902-885-2391.

Thursday, Oct. 20 Cape Breton Regional Library staff will have a booth at Cape Breton University to promote the library and sign up new members.

Cape Breton Regional Library staff will deliver a presentation to staff at the Harbourstone Enhanced Care seniors facility. The presentation will include information about the library's online services and web awareness information.

Pictou Antigonish Public Library has a special program, courtesy of its Adopt a Library Literacy Program. Every time someone visits the library, they can enter a contest to win a cloth bag.

South Shore Regional Library will host Upstairs at the Library, where a fall craft program will take place, at the Bridgewater Library.

South Shore Regional Library will hold a Seniors Library Café at the Lunenburg Library, between 10 a.m. and noon. At the café seniors will learn about online library services.

South Shore Regional Library is hosting Computer Tutor at the Lunenburg, Liverpool and Bridgewater libraries on Thursday evenings.

Halifax Public Libraries: Sackville Library -- will feature pumpkin painting for children aged 8-12 at 3:30 p.m. Paint your own scary pumpkin. Dress it up and make it as spooky or as silly as you want. Call to register.

Halifax Public Libraries: Spring Garden Road Library -- the National Film Board Film Club presents Alter Egos at 7 p.m. Ryan Larkin and Chris Landreth are Alter Egos. Ryan is living every artist's worst nightmare -- losing his ability to create and to provide for himself. He panhandles on the street to make ends meet. But more than 30 years ago, he was among the world's most celebrated animators and an Oscar nominee. Chris, a rising star in animation, is on the opposite trajectory in his career and is beginning to experience the kind of adulation Ryan saw decades earlier. In this poignant study of artists, addiction and creativity, director Laurence Green explores these renowned filmmakers and the reasons for their divergent paths including the fascinating relationship that developed between the two men. Alter Egos also seamlessly incorporates the 2004 Oscar-winning film Ryan, directed by Chris Landreth.

Halifax Public Libraries: Tantallon Library -- will host the puppet show Halloween Magic at 3:30 p.m. This puppet show is fun for all ages, but is especially geared toward school-aged children. Free tickets will be given out at the information desk starting 30 minutes before the show.

Friday, Oct. 21 South Shore Regional Library will host storytime for kids aged three to five years at the Lunenburg Library on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.; and at the Thomas H. Raddall Library in Liverpool from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

South Shore Regional Library will hold Crystal's Story and Craft Hour for kids aged four and above at the Bridgewater Library on Fridays from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 22 Halifax Public Libraries: Cole Harbour Library -- is holding a community health fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The library, together with businesses and community organizations operating out of Cole Harbour Place, invite you to an open house featuring displays and services which highlight and promote a healthy lifestyle. This includes tours of many Cole Harbour Place services, including the library, which will feature a display of broad-ranging health-related materials. Throughout the day, library staff will demonstrate how to use the library's catalogue and health-related electronic databases.

Halifax Public Libraries: Halifax North Library -- Gottingen X, a new piece by David Woods performed with hip hop artist DJ Delite, will take place at 2 p.m. Gottingen X combines poetry, art and hip-hop music into a single performance piece reflecting the urban experience in Halifax. This is Mr. Woods' personal vision of Gottingen Street -- a chronicle of personalities and street characters; churches and after-hours joints; street vendors and musicians; but most of all, it's a representation of a community which provided a loving , nurturing environment for his art and writing. Poems include In A Minute, Painting Gottingen, Lebanon, Queenie, Notes from The Derby Tavern, The Pursuit of Heritage and Love Song of Gottingen Street.

Halifax Public Libraries: Musquodoboit Library -- hosts Memories of Oyster Pond at 1 p.m. See Oyster Pond through the eyes of three generations of the family which owned the Oyster Pond Village store from 1891 to 1975. Thea Wilson-Hammond, archivist with the Lake Charlotte Area Heritage Society, will evoke memories of an earlier era with an audio-visual presentation. For more information, or to register for this free program, call 902-889-2227.

Halifax Public Libraries: J.D. Shatford Library -- is holding the Scott Walking Adventures at 2 p.m. Join us for an afternoon walk, experiencing the ways you can have fun exploring the natural areas of Nova Scotia. Explore in a group or with a guide while enjoying some of the area's finest accommodations and dining. For more information or to register, please call 902-857-9176.

Halifax Public Libraries: Woodlawn Library -- is hosting the family learn to knit program, for people aged eight and up, between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sheryl Goodwin from Tangled Skeins, on Portland Street, will introduce you to the great craft of knitting. Sheryl and her volunteers will introduce participants to the basics, then suggest some simple projects to knit on your own. Supplies provided. Space is limited. To register or for more information, call 902-435-8352.

Monday, Oct. 24 Eastern Counties Regional Library: Port Hawkesbury -- will officially launch the 4th annual Share A Book fundraiser with the first of a three-part East Coast Crime Wave Author Tour, featuring award-winning mystery authors Mary Jane Maffini and Barbara Fradkin.