[LINK] "Libraries as Community Plumbing"

[rfmcdonald]

I quite like this post by Prince Edward Island Peter Rukavina. Whether on Prince Edward Island or in Toronto--Toronto's public library system is the most extensive in North America--libraries are profoundly enabling and democratizing, giving all of its users access to the same information regardless of their origins or current standings.

I’m sure there are literally dozens of tiny resource collections squirreled away in the offices of non-profit organizations across the province. Organization gets funding from ACOA to develop a resource collection; hires resource coordinator; buys resources; funding runs out; resource collection gathers dust in the corner: I’ve seen it happen over and over, and have been party to it more than once.

And yet there’s the Public Library Service: a presence across the province, convenient hours, friendly staff, an online catalogue, a reservations service – in other words everything you need to provide equitable, low-barrier access to resources for all Islanders. The perfect repository for public resources.