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Canadian Library Workers Day

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CLM_EN_words-onlya message from University Librarian, Donna Bourne-Tyson

October is Canadian Library Month, an annual celebration of libraries, library workers, and the services they provide to their communities. The third Friday in October is set aside to specifically recognize Canadian Library Workers.

Library workers promote cultural awareness, engage in the community, provide educational programs, support freedom of expression and so much more. Library workers provide service to their communities and help their libraries and communities grow.

Without Canadian library workers, we wouldn’t have Canadian libraries; without dedicated staff, we wouldn’t have the Dalhousie Libraries.

I consider myself very fortunate to be surrounded by such talented, caring, and hard-working colleagues every day. On this Canadian Library Workers Day, I wanted to say thank you for the amazing job the staff in the Dal Libraries do.

“The most important asset of any library goes home at night – the library staff.”  –Timothy Healy

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Canadian Library Month

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canadian library month 2014

What is Canadian Library Month?

Canadian Library Month is the time to celebrate the inspiration created in and by libraries. Canada’s libraries help to inspire us to celebrate our culture while playing a role in preserving our heritage. Libraries give Canadians equitable access to information and they support lifelong learning. 

Did you know over 21 million Canadians hold a public library card, making public libraries the most popular cultural institution in Canada? Over 97 per cent of Canadians live in communities served by a public library. Academic libraries, school libraries, and special libraries add to the creativity and personal, professional, and academic growth of Canadians, serving students and faculty and those in the corporate, government, and non‐profit sectors. (Source: http://librarymonth.ca/what-is-library-month/)

Fittingly, this year’s theme for Canadian Library Month is “Libraries Inspire.” So, how do libraries inspire you? The Canadian Library Association wants to know, have libraries inspired in you a sense community belonging? a new friendship? an idea for a great creative work? Share your story here: http://librarymonth.ca/stories/share-my-story/

 And if you want to share how the Dal Libraries inspire you, please comment here too!

October Is Canadian Libraries Month

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The poster for this year's Canadian Library Month.

What is a library? Libraries are hubs, connecting people to services, information and their community. Unfortunately, the outdated and commonly held perception that libraries are just books on shelves persists, and with the rise of tools like Google, some people question why we even need libraries. This is why we take time every October to recognize Canadian Libraries Month. Developed by library partners from across the country, Canadian Libraries Month reminds us of the valuable role that libraries play in the lives of Canadians.

Instead of ‘What is a library?’, the better question is ‘What do libraries do?’ Libraries foster lifelong learning by helping people of all ages access the information and tools they need to live, learn and work. Libraries bolster economic prosperity by providing access to decision-making information for organizations and businesses, they enhance the quality of life for all Canadians, and they help ensure that Canadian culture continues to flourish and thrive. Academic libraries play a special role contributing to the academic growth of Canadians.

The theme for this year’s Canadian Libraries Month is Libraries Connect. Here at the Dalhousie Libraries, we’ve taken some time to reflect on how we connect with our users and our community. Here are just some of the ways that we connect:

  • connecting with library users face-to-face at the Information Desks, Reference Desks, Circulation Desks and Help Desks
  • connecting users with services through the libraries’ website, mobile website and blog
  • connecting with users through social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest
  • connecting users with reference services through live chat
  • connecting anonymously with users through the Comments/Compliments/Complaints boards
  • connecting with on-campus events like Pink Day and Dal Reads
  • connecting with the community through initiatives like One Book Nova Scotia
What role have libraries played in your life? How has their role changed as you’ve grown? How do you connect to the Dal Libraries?

The display at the Killam Library for Canadian Libraries Month.