Virtue of A Library
Dear the Editor,
Peter Doig, Chair of the Central Library Steering Committee, stated last week (February 4, 2006) that the cost of a new central library on the corner of Spring Garden and Queen is in the $ 35 million range and could be opened in the 2009 timeframe. Chris Cochrane last week (February 5, 2006) mused that the cost of the Halifax 2014 commonwealth games is estimated to be in the $750 to $785 million range. In my books there is no comparison for value for money. When do we start building the library?
Lady Bird Johnson once said that "Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest." She was right. Amazingly, some 52% of Haligonians have a library card. Both my 6 and 7 year old daughters, my 70'ish mother in law and I have library cards. I cannot imagine any public service that has a wider or larger demographic of clients served than the HRM's public libraries.
It is well known and recognised that the Spring Garden Road library needs to be replaced. When you visit the Keshen Goodman library in Clayton Park, opened in 2001, you quickly see that the library serves numerous bibliophiles from the service area of the sadly lacking Spring Garden Road library.
Cicero once said that "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need." Haligonians are blessed to have the Public Gardens, and the opportunity to construct a new public garden on the corner of Spring Garden and Queen. We have the opportunity to have everything we need.
During upcoming budget deliberation, Peter Doig stated that "Council better show some positive support". I too will be listening and hoping that the Mayor and all Councillors invest significantly in the new library. Someone once said that, "A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessities of life." In Halifax today, the Commonwealth Games are a luxury. A new library is central necessity to our growing community.
Peter Doig, Chair of the Central Library Steering Committee, stated last week (February 4, 2006) that the cost of a new central library on the corner of Spring Garden and Queen is in the $ 35 million range and could be opened in the 2009 timeframe. Chris Cochrane last week (February 5, 2006) mused that the cost of the Halifax 2014 commonwealth games is estimated to be in the $750 to $785 million range. In my books there is no comparison for value for money. When do we start building the library?
Lady Bird Johnson once said that "Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest." She was right. Amazingly, some 52% of Haligonians have a library card. Both my 6 and 7 year old daughters, my 70'ish mother in law and I have library cards. I cannot imagine any public service that has a wider or larger demographic of clients served than the HRM's public libraries.
It is well known and recognised that the Spring Garden Road library needs to be replaced. When you visit the Keshen Goodman library in Clayton Park, opened in 2001, you quickly see that the library serves numerous bibliophiles from the service area of the sadly lacking Spring Garden Road library.
Cicero once said that "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need." Haligonians are blessed to have the Public Gardens, and the opportunity to construct a new public garden on the corner of Spring Garden and Queen. We have the opportunity to have everything we need.
During upcoming budget deliberation, Peter Doig stated that "Council better show some positive support". I too will be listening and hoping that the Mayor and all Councillors invest significantly in the new library. Someone once said that, "A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessities of life." In Halifax today, the Commonwealth Games are a luxury. A new library is central necessity to our growing community.
posted by Pete at 8:55 PM
