From We Day to Tree Day, Earth Day and birthdays, Bird Day, Bean Day, I Want You To Be Happy Day, and even Compliment Your Mirror Day (every July 3, you are encouraged to “take a step back, and examine your reflection. This is you, the only you, and the best you there is”), it seems that we have left no stone unturned in finding a day to commemorate just about everything.
October is — as I am sure you are already aware — Canadian Library Month (not to be confused with School Library Month in April or the American National Library Week). And even though we have to share October with Women’s History Month, I think you’ll agree that being given an entire month to celebrate libraries accords a certain gravitas to the recognition, a pride of place granted to only the most exemplary of public institutions. In other words, we get a month, the birds only get a day — na na na na na!
In all seriousness, for those of us who have devoted our careers to the democratic ideal of the free public library, this is as a good a time as any to reflect on the changing role of the library, and how we can continue to meet the challenges of an increasingly diverse and technology-based society.
While the earliest public libraries date back hundreds of years, it was primarily during the late 19th and early 20th centuries that public libraries became widespread in towns and cities across the western world. The rise of libraries built on the establishment of democratic systems of government, in parallel with the development of public education, public hospitals, civil police forces and other basic social institutions that we now mostly take for granted.
The core idea behind the public library is simple: to provide free access to the widest possible range of ideas and knowledge to all citizens, regardless of economic background, race, age or gender. This idea is central to a system of government in which all citizens are entrusted to vote, stand for public office and contribute to the decision-making process at every level of society. Without access to all the information, how can we make the right decisions?
Most of the library’s services and programs support this core idea. We offer early literacy programming because reading is a prerequisite to accessing knowledge and information and participating fully in the social decision-making process. We offer access to computers and free computer help because so much information is now only available on the Internet. We offer not only “information”, but also stories because, as Albert Camus wisely observed, “Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth.”
Like all of our social contracts — public education, public health care, police and fire services — information comes at a cost, but as another wise person once said, “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” The fact is, up to a certain point, pooling our resources to fund core social services is a net benefit for all of us.
I am very proud to work for an institution that is truly inclusive, where you can expect the same level of service and respect regardless of wealth, background, age or gender. I am also proud to work for an institution that is prepared to stand up for intellectual freedom, and your right to read and learn about ideas no matter how unpopular these ideas may be. And I am proud and grateful to serve such an extraordinarily talented and compassionate community in this beautiful valley.
Happy Library Month, everyone!
Aaron Francis is the chief librarian at the Creston Valley Public Library.