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Education
June 9, 2009

Grand Bank Library Gets a Facelift

On the 60th anniversary of the construction of the Grand Bank Public Library this year, the facility will see $100,000 in improvements with funding provided by the Provincial Government.

�Over 86 per cent of our population has direct access to public libraries, and they are an excellent resource in communities throughout the province,� said the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education. �With that in mind, our government increased facilities grants to the library board by $150,000 annually, beginning in 2007. This funding is being used to upgrade the library system and enhance services for the many people who use these facilities.�

In 2008, the Provincial Information and Library Resources Board (PILRB) completed a facilities� review, which involved an evaluation of the condition and age of each of the PILRB-owned library buildings. The review enabled the board to prioritize facility improvements based on need. Stephenville library was identified as having the greatest need and work was completed on that facility in the winter and spring of 2008. Grand Bank Public Library is next on the priority list.

�We are extremely pleased to be able to improve the condition of our facilities,� stated Cal Taylor, chair of the PILRB. �The additional funding provided by government for capital improvements is appreciated and needed. Library buildings are a significant part of library operations and when we can improve a structure, we improve the service. Our goal is to improve all of our facilities over the next several years, starting with those which have the greatest need and the additional funding from government will help make this possible.�

Work on the Grand Bank Public Library will begin soon and is scheduled to be completed by the end of September. Improvements to the facility will include the replacement of shingles, windows and brick, repairs to the foundation and the replacement of side doors. Some interior work, such as plastering and painting will also be carried out.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador strongly supports the 96 public libraries throughout the province. 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.

�Libraries play an important role in Newfoundland and Labrador, particularly in rural areas of the province,� said Minister King. �Libraries are key players in helping advance education, literacy and rural development. They have the information and materials that individuals and organizations need to grow. Our libraries assist students with school projects, provide hardware and software use for growing businesses, and help strengthen our province�s literacy rates. The additional funding we have allocated in recent years for libraries will no doubt help enrich everything our libraries have to offer.�

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Media contacts:

Jacquelyn Howard
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 689-2624
jacquelynhoward@gov.nl.ca
Shawn Tetford
Executive Director
Newfoundland and Labrador
Public Libraries
709-643-0902
stetford@nlpl.ca

2006 06 08                         1:45 p.m.
 


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