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Education
March 17, 2009

Additional Funding Provided for Public Libraries

Public libraries in several communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador will receive various upgrades with additional funding of $260,000 provided by the Provincial Government. The funding includes the modernization of Kindale Public Library in Stephenville, the purchase of appropriate shelving for libraries in Deer Lake, Botwood and St. John�s, and upgrades to the children�s area in 35 locations.

�Libraries are key players in helping advance education, literacy and help contribute to community development, especially in rural areas of the province,� said the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education. �Keep in mind, many communities are miles away from the nearest bookstore and not all homes have access to computers and the Internet. With this additional funding, many libraries throughout the province will receive upgrades which will make them more user-friendly and appealing for everyone.�

Over the past three years, additional funding of $1.1 million has been invested in public libraries to extend the hours of operation at 47 sites, to help develop a pre-school literacy program, to provide training for volunteer library board trustees, and to address infrastructure needs in Labrador West.

�We are extremely pleased to have received this funding for public libraries in Newfoundland and Labrador,� stated Cal Taylor, Chair of the Provincial Information and Library Resources Board (PILRB). �The funding will be used to complete a modernization project, purchase new, adaptable, shelving for a number of libraries, and improve the children's areas. Our goal is to make libraries more inviting and adaptable to the needs of our patrons. With this financial support from the Provincial Government we are able to do this.�

With 96 public libraries, there are more provincial libraries per capita in Newfoundland and Labrador than any other province in Canada, resulting in 86 per cent of the population having direct access to a library. In total, more than 1.5 million library materials were circulated to patrons.

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Media contact:
Jacquelyn Howard
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 689-2624
jacquelynhoward@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER

The following libraries will receive upgrades:

Location
Kindale - Stephenville
Stephenville Crossing
Deer Lake
Botwood
A.C. Hunter � St. John�s
Unassigned
Project
Modernization
Rolling Stock
Shelving
Shelving

Shelving
Shelving
Shelving

Thirty-five libraries in the following communities will receive improvements to children�s areas:

Bay St. George South
Buchans
Burin
Burgeo
Cape St. George
Carmanville
Cartwright
Centreville
Change Islands
Churchill Falls
Codroy Valley
Fogo
Glovertown
Harbour Breton
Hare Bay
Hermitage
Lark Harbour
Lourdes
Lumsden
Marystown
Musgrave Harbour
Point Leamington
Port au Port
Ramea
Rocky Harbour
Sop�s Arms
Springdale
St. Lawrence
St. Lunaire Griquet
Twillingate
Wesleyville
Winterton
A.C. Hunter � St. John�s
Michael Donovan � St. John�s
Marjorie Mews � St. John�s


2009 03 17                                     10:45 a.m.
 


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