LIBRARY RECEPTION
ANNUAL BC LIBRARY RECEPTION DURING the UNION of BC MUNICIPALITIES CONVENTION
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Summary of 2009 BC Libraries Reception
Wednesday, September 30th at the Union of BC Municipalities Convention
“BC Libraries: Champions of Literacy and Learning”
The 2009 BC Libraries Reception was jointly hosted by the BC Library Trustees Association, the BC Library Association and the Association of BC Public Library Directors and held in conjunction with the Union of BC Municipalities Convention in Vancouver on the evening of Wednesday, September 30th. The reception was a great success, with approximately 450 people in attendance – this was a good 150 more than in previous years, which was a pleasant surprise for the event organizers! Among the attendees were many, many local government elected officials, as well as a solid provincial contingent of MLAs and staff. Also of note were the many library sector representatives – both trustees and staff – who made the trip downtown to mingle and connect with our local and provincial politicians.
Reception highlights included a wonderful library slideshow prepared by Mandy Davies of BCLTA, a mini-keynote address by Dr. Ike Barber of UBC’s Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, an address by the Honourable Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid, Minister of Education and Minister Responsible for Early Learning and Literacy, and presentation of the 2009 Library Director of the Year Award.
Dr. Barber spoke about the key role that libraries played in his entering into a highly successful career in forestry; and went on to stress that libraries help individuals and communities to grow – thereby providing economic benefits to all of us. He concluded by encouraging the establishment of library partnerships such as the one that helped build the IKBLC – a joint venture of Dr. Barber, UBC and the provincial government.
Dr. Barber’s speech was followed by an address by the Honourable Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid, who brought greetings from the provincial government and spoke about her lifelong love of libraries – beginning when she was a little girl and continuing into her medical practice, when she would often refer her patients to the library for information on their ailments. Minister MacDiarmid concluded by stressing the provincial government’s strong support of libraries and advising that her Ministry is doing what it can to provide this support in these difficult economic times.
Both Dr. Barber and Minister MacDiarmid received a gift of two books generously donated by the Association of Book Publishers of BC – one to keep, and one gifted to the Vancouver Public Library on each speaker’s behalf.
Following the Minister’s address, and as a final highlight to the evening, Burnaby Public Library’s Chief Librarian, Edel Toner-Rogala, was presented with the ABCPLD’s 2009 Library Director of the Year Award.
The reception concluded with a door prize draw, with prizes generously donated by the Vancouver Public Library. Salt Spring Island Trustee Christine Torgrimson and Mayor Andy Anderson of Aschroft were the lucky winners.
Thank you to all those who helped to organize the event, and who took time out of their schedules to attend on behalf of the library community. And a special thank you to our sponsors, Bury Media & Supplies and 3M Canada.
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We look forward to hosting another successful reception in 2010…
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Dr. Ike Barber
The Honourable Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid
UBCM BC Libraries Reception Sept 2009 Vancouver HIGHLIGHTS