Powell River Public Library has won Canada’s highest honour for efforts to improve literacy, the 2013 Council of the Federation Literacy Award for BC.
“With its track record of bringing together a wide range of partners to support literacy, the Powell River Public Library has earned the nickname, ‘the little library that could,’” said BC Premier Christy Clark.
As a way to promote literacy at the provincial and territorial level and raise its profile across Canada, premiers created a Council of the Federation Literacy Award medallion. The award recognizes outstanding achievement, innovative practice and excellence in literacy. Thirteen Council of the Federation Literacy medallions are presented annually, one for each province and territory, to recognize the excellence of educators, volunteers, learners, community organizations and businesses in many areas, including family, aboriginal, health, workplace and community literacy.
This is the first time in its nine-year history that the award has been won by a public library.
“We are absolutely thrilled to receive this recognition for the efforts of our staff and board,” said Charlie Kregel, chief librarian. “It’s quite amazing for our modest little operation to be recognized this way. It’s also a little surprising to be the first public library to win.”
Just by opening their doors each day, public libraries are significant contributors to improving literacy in their communities, Kregel added. “And that’s before they do all the rest of what they do. We think this award recognizes not just our efforts here, but the importance of public libraries everywhere.”
The library develops, delivers and supports literacy programs across the region. Its partners include StrongStart BC, Powell River’s school district, Powell River Youth Centre, Ahms Tah Ow First Nations School, Vancouver Island University and Vancouver Coastal Health.
Through these collaborations, Powell River residents benefit from a diverse selection of literacy-related activities, including Books for BC Babies, Powell River Family Place Parent-Child Mother Goose, the Powell River Poetry Slam and Memoir Writing for Seniors.
The library has free access to Internet and computer use, classes to improve computer skills, economic and business database access and Rosetta Stone language learning resources. Small businesses and entrepreneurs are welcomed at the library, where a staff member with a business background is available to provide personalized assistance in searching their extensive online and in-library collection of business information.
Powell River’s library is a standout among libraries, according to a library release. “Even with its limited resources, it’s taken a strategic approach to migrating toward the public library service of tomorrow, steadily increasing its offerings of events, programs and instruction, developing relevant technologies, aiming unique services at prominent special user groups and renewing its collections,” the release stated.
Jon van Oostveen, board chair, said that everyone connected with the library should be honoured by this award. “People in Powell River are beginning to take notice that, except for our sadly inadequate facility, this is not just the library their parents visited as kids, but one that is much more about social, cultural and economic development,” he said. “Literacy improvement is a big piece of that. The board continues to work hard on a new library and this award gives us additional assurance that we are on the right track.”
Award recipients receive a certificate, signed by the premier of their province or territory, a Council of the Federation Literacy Award medallion and $300.
Arrangements for an award ceremony in Powell River will be announced at a later date.
