C.D. Howe, once said Canada is at its best when it has a big project to take on.
Howe, a former Liberal cabinet minister who served under three consecutive prime ministers from 1935 to 1957, has been credited for helping transform Canada’s economy from one based on agriculture to industrial. Howe was also given the nickname ‘minister of everything’ by the media of the day because of his extensive involvement in Canada’s war effort.
I learned about this, in large part, because of a CBC TV mini-series called the Arrow, a story about how the Avro Arrow, a supersonic jet interceptor, was created and later mothballed.
It is something I was able to confirm and learn more about through my public library — a stand-alone library, one that wasn’t shared with a school.
And to tell the truth, whether the public library in whatever town I happened to live in at the time, was a shared facility isn’t something that I have given a lot of thought.
But that changed recently after attending last week’s town council meeting.
During the meeting, as part of his regular Yellowhead and regional library report, Coun. Rod Klumph said that although the relationship between the library and Barrhead Elementary School as well as Pembina Hills Public Schools (PHPS) is good, it isn’t perfect, adding the board discussed some of the challenges that exist as a result of having to share space and resources.
And when you add in the fact that the library serves two different demographics, one being grade school children, who use the facility as part of school programming, and the general public, it is surprising that there are not more difficulties. Klumph said the board referenced a report that recommends that in communities of 2,500 it was best for all concerned that the library is separate from the school.
I tend to agree with that. A school and a community deserve their own libraries. Although I couldn’t find the report Klumph talked about I did find a number of studies that indicate schools that have a their own library and dedicated teacher-librarian has a positive impact on student achievement.
How could it not?
That is why I am suggesting that our municipal councils and community groups consider putting a separate library facility on the list of potential future projects for the community.
Yes, there are drawbacks of having a separate facility. The major one being cost. The town would have to build or lease a new facility and staff it without the benefit of a financial contribution from BES. Similarly Barrhead Elementary would also bear the full cost of running a separate library for its students.
That being said, I think it is an idea that is worth investigating.
