Legal Research

October Is Canadian Library Month

By Shaunna Mireau

Yes folks, we librarians celebrate for a whole month each year. The idea for a month dedicated to library and information services in Canada was developed by library partners from across the country to help raise public awareness of the valuable role that libraries play in the lives of Canadians. The Canadian Library Association, along with it provincial and territorial partners, sets a theme, provides a toolbox, and libraries all across the country have parties and events to showcase the cool things that we do for our clients.

This year, I am celebrating library month with a “Proud supporter of Edmonton Public Library” display. EPL, and all of the libraries who participate in The Alberta Library, offer excellent resources to all, including private industry. My law firm has an Edmonton Public Library card so that we can use these wonderful services:

• Newspaper databases like Press Display and Canadian Newsstand
• Microfilm and microfiche reader printers
• Ebooks, audio recordings, directories, and books that we can’t justify purchasing
• The helpful collective minds of hundreds of trained librarians, many of whom have a particular area of expertise
• Access to the collections of over 290 Alberta Libraries

Public Library business models are as often debated as advocated. In my opinion, Libraries are changing (as they must) for the better. As a special librarian, I value the innovation that often originates in public libraries.

I hope that you can take a moment to visit a library this October.

Full post as published by Slaw.ca on October 12, 2010 (boomark / email).