When you ask Sechelt Public Library's Iris Loewen, chief librarian, what or who has played a major role in the library's long history, you get two answers -author L.R. (Bunny) Wright and technology.
Chair of the library board, Rik Diespecker adds one more, important component - volunteers. Wright, regarded by many as one of Canada's finest mystery writers, has arguably done more than any other person to put the Sunshine Coast on the map. Her books are well known in Canada and abroad. And one of her last personal appearances before succumbing to cancer was a book launch in 2000 of her book Kidnapped.
"The first I heard of Sechelt was reading L.R. Wright in Manitoba. I think she played a major role in the Sechelt Public Library. For a long time visitors would stop and ask for Cassandra the librarian (a key character in Kidnapped)," Loewen reminisced. "The use of the Internet is probably the biggest change for libraries everywhere." That, along with modern automated systems that make the amount of library research people can do from their own homes, is amazing to Loewen.
"Websites act like a branch library," she explained. Although she hastens to add the library doesn't want to discourage personal visits. "Sometimes it's not convenient to come to the library. It's a handy way of doing business," Loewen said.Diespecker is also a transplanted Manitoban. He retired here in 1990 and two months later he volunteered to work at the library. He's done almost every volunteer job possible in the library, and this is his second year as chair of the board.
On Nov. 23 the library celebrates 10 years in its present location at 5797 Cowrie St. The library has been a part of the lives of Coast citizens for over 45 years. Begun as a service to Sechelt and district, the library became an association 25 years ago.
The number of items handled yearly by the library boggles the mind. In just 10 years the number has doubled to over 172,000. That includes books, magazines, and DVDs.
The library's membership is close to 9,000 people, a huge (260 per cent) increase from 10 years ago. And these members made almost 110,000 visits to the library last year.
The library service is available to all residents of the Sunshine Coast, from Port Mellon to Egmont.
A new library system shared with Gibsons Public Library allows access to the library 24 hours a day, every day, through the Sechelt Library's website www.secpl.scrd.bc.ca.
For book lovers, Loewen recommends another website called NoveLIST. It identifies books through many different ways, from genres to bestseller lists.
Next up will be the ability to download audio books onto home computers. This is a provincial program slated to take effect in mid-2007.
Other initiatives dear to Loewen's heart are the various literacy programs spearheaded by the library aimed at children and young people.
On Nov. 14 the library will host Carrie Mac, renowned author of books for teens.
"She writes very realistic novels of teen life. The Beckoners dealt with bullying and won the Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Award," Loewen said.
And the province wants every school-aged child in B.C. from kindergarten to Grade 12 to have a library card. To that end the Ministry of Education is offering Nano iPods as incentives. There will be one each to be won at the Gibsons and Sechelt branches. All students with library cards are eligible to win. And the contest is open to all students regardless of where they are educated, in public or private schools or home schooled.
Loewen thinks with the large number of readers on the Coast it would be a natural for the local students to have the highest number of library cards in the entire province.
She loves being able to introduce young people to books.
"Whether [the reader is] a three-year-old or a 13-year-old, when their eyes light up, it makes your day," Loewen said.All visitors to the Sechelt Library from now until Nov. 23 are urged to enter a draw for a basket of 12 books courtesy of Harbour Publishing. And on Nov. 23 former resident Craig Spence will be on hand to present his book Josh and the Magic Vial as part of Canadian Children's Book Week.
If you're interested in serving on the board or volunteering, give Diespecker a call at 604-885-2958. For any questions regarding the library policies or programs, call 604-885-3260. With your help the Sechelt Public Library will always be here to take the mystery out of literacy.
