A TRIBUTE TO LOIS HOLE

An Open Letter to Premier Ralph Klein

Premier, Hon. Ralph Klein
Office of the Premier
Legislature Building
#307, 10800-97 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta
T5K 2B6


January 17, 2005

Dear Premier Klein:

The Banff Public Library board was deeply saddened to hear the news of the death of Lieutenant Governor Lois Hole.

Last July our board was privileged and delighted to host Her Honour at our library, so we know first hand that she was a warm and wonderful human being, as well as a passionate believer in public institutions, like the public library, that support the fundamental values of community and democracy.

We know that you must be thinking of ways to pay tribute to this remarkable Albertan, and we have a suggestion:

We think that the provincial government can promote those universal values for which Lois Hole stood – community, literacy, lifelong learning, democracy – by endowing a lasting legacy in her honour: ongoing funding to support the annual provision of a free library card to every Albertan at his or her local public library.

When the Lieutenant Governor visited Banff Public Library she spoke eloquently about the essential role of public libraries, and she applauded Banff for providing free library cards to our residents, an initiative that increased library memberships in this community by 40%. She said “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.”

The legacy of free public library cards would not only fulfill a hope that Lois Hole expressed, but it would be a way of carrying forward her ideals to generations of Albertans. Alberta’s first Public Libraries Act in 1907 decreed that “All libraries shall be open to the public free of all charges.” What better year than Alberta’s Centennial to renew this ideal and, in the words of our late Lieutenant Governor, “open the doors of knowledge to anyone who cares to listen”.

There can be no more fitting tribute to the remarkable Lois Hole: the lasting legacy of open library doors.

Sincerely,

Marti Wilson, Chair
Banff Public Library Board


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