In these days of economic downturns, layoffs and belt tightening, there are a few places that cash-strapped folks and families can turn to.
Traditionally, movie houses, pubs and of course public libraries see an increase in use.
Our library is no exception. Over the past year, we have seen an increase in library membership of 1.192, bringing our membership to 13.955.
This represents a huge percentage of the population of Squamish and environs. Items borrowed increased by 14.5 per cent since this time last year, and Internet use is up 20 per cent.
Local teacher Jutta L'Hirondelle recalls when her family was growing up here almost 30 years ago. Squamish's library was still housed at Municipal Hall. It was dark, crowded with books and difficult to find your way around. However on Friday evenings, the L'Hirondelle family would go to the library to huddle amongst the banks of books, find materials and sit and read. Once they'd chosen the week's books, it was off to the ice cream store for a treat, and then back home to open and share the treasures they'd found.
L'Hirondelle says although the physical building has changed, the staff is still just as welcoming and helpful. This is a great idea for families of today to emulate.
Sadly, because of bank foreclosures, people leaving town and industries laying workers off, some communities, particularly in the U.S., are withdrawing funds from their libraries even, in some cases, closing them.
The library truly is the heart of the community. Like schools, once they close or even offer fewer services, folk start to move away and the whole social fabric of the community declines.
We all need our library.
An important fundraiser for us is the Friends of the Library's book sale.
It's coming up the April 17 and 18 at the library. If you have items you'd like to donate for the sale, bring them in. Unfortunately, we cannot accept National Geographics and Readers Digests. Otherwise, we'll see you armed with lots of cash, at the book sale ready to buy recycled treasures.
