LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR LOIS HOLE GUEST OF HONOUR AT BANFF PUBLIC LIBRARY

Lieutenant Governor Lois Hole at the Banff Public Library
Lieutenant Governor Lois Hole at the Banff Public Library

“It’s a real pleasure to join you today to congratulate the staff, the board, and the users of the Banff Public Library for being granted the Creative Public Library Service Award.

“Let me tell you, that award is well-deserved; giving free library memberships to all members of the community is a wonderful idea, and like you, I believe it should become standard practice throughout the province…”

So began the warm and laudatory speech by Her Honour Lois Hole on a bright, summer afternoon as the library board, library staff, mayor, town councilors, library patrons, and special guests gathered at the Banff Public Library to officially install the award in a display cabinet in the library lobby.

The Honourable Gene Zwozdesky, Minister of Community Development had presented the award to Banff Public Library at the Alberta Library Conference in 2002 for the library’s project, aptly titled “Reaching Readers”, an initiative which made free library access a permanent policy in Banff and brought province-wide attention to the vital role of public libraries in a democratic society.

The board had timed the local unveiling of the award so that Her Honour could join the celebration in Banff. Her Honour’s speech was passionate in support of public libraries:

“Without true literacy, democracy itself becomes impossible; the real battle of the 21st century, I believe, will be between those who would use ignorance to serve their own greed, and those who selflessly open the doors of knowledge to anyone who cares to listen.

“By building a culture that venerates the principles of literacy, we may yet save ourselves from a grim future of literary haves and have-nots.”

Earlier in the program, Shelley Mardiros had outlined the history of “Reaching Readers” and Mayor Dennis Shuler had spoken about the Council’s decision to permanently fund free library memberships. “When we saw the results of the first free year, and the community appreciation of the library, frankly it was a ‘no-brainer’,” he said. “We should have done it years ago.”

Following the installation of the award, guests mingled for tea and conversation in the library lobby.