Education
March 17, 2009Additional
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.