There are a number of vacancies to fill on the Library Board this fall.  City Council names new members to the Board each October, to begin three-year terms at the November meeting.

The Board meets on the fourth Thursday of each month, starting at 7:00 p.m.  Meetings normally last about 90 minutes.  Each Board member also sits on one of two Board Standing Committees, which meet the same day at noon and at 6:30 p.m. The Board doesn't normally meet in July and August.

Qualifications?  We're looking for people with a love of libraries and learning, connections in the community, and a commitment to intellectual freedom.  Go to this page on our website to learn more about the Library Board's Mission and Values.  We're also looking for specific skills: legal or financial expertise, previous Board experience, or experience in business, government or the not-for-profit sector. The Library Board is committed to ensuring that the Board reflects the diversity of our community.

If you are interested in learning more about being a Board member, please contact Library Board Chair Mike Todd at 403-356-2946 or by email at miket@allwestins.ca, or get in touch with me, Dean Frey, Director of RDPL, at 403-342-9102, or at dfrey@rdpl.org by email.   Time is of the essence: the deadline for applications to City Council is September 26, 2008.  

Applications and committee details are available from Legislative & Administrative Services, second floor, City Hall or fill out the online form at this page. Application forms must be returned by Friday, September 26 to Legislative & Administrative Services or by fax to 403-346-6195. Further information is available by phone at 403-342-8132 or by email at legislativeservices@reddeer.ca.

Artsparks at the Library, which provides arts programming for all, targetted to the community of persons with developmental disabilities, has been a great success. It's lots of fun watching the Movie Making Camp participants this summer.

Here are some of the Artsparks performing arts projects you can hear and see on the web:

• the Artsparks Audio Collection of mp3 files
• Artsparks TV (requires Quicktime Viewer)
• The Library Story (requires Quicktime Viewer)

Red Deer Public Library was a major sponsor for an exciting event at the Capri Hotel on Monday, April 28th. John Wood, the founder and CEO of Room to Read, spoke to more than 1,000 people at a luncheon organized by the Rotary Clubs of Red Deer. Room to Read is a nonprofit organization that "...combines the heart of Mother Theresa with the scalability of Starbucks". Wood, a former corporate leader from Microsoft, founded Room to Read out of deep concern that nearly one billion people lack basic literacy. Blessed with a solid education which was a wonderful foundation for his future, Wood started the organization as a way to give that same opportunity to children in the world's poorest countries. Wood's story is told in his book Leaving Microsoft to Change the World.

Rotary International has identified Literacy as a major focus for its excellent work in many countries around the world. Local clubs provide strong support to global literacy initiatives, but they also are very interested in making local connections as well. That's what makes this project so exciting. It provides the highest possible profile for RDPL and its Adult Literacy and Family Literacy Programs. It also provides a focus for the discussion we've had in the past few years amongst Board and staff members about getting involved with library communities in the Third World. Wood brings an exciting message that places literacy and libraries right in the centre of a major initiative to make the world and our local communities better places. That's right where we should be.

Lots of changes happening at RDPL. At the end of March we shut down the Dawe Branch for renovations, and later this month, we'll be opening the Lion Plaza express Branch. But what about the Adult Literacy Program, a fixture at Dawe for many years? Read this article for the latest information:

Red Deer Public Library's Adult Literacy Program is on the move. On March 31, the doors will close at our Dawe Centre location and open again on April 21 at our temporary location at our Lion Plaza Branch.

The Adult Literacy Program has been in Red Deer for over twenty years and is funded by Advanced Education and the Red Deer Public Library. Students of our program are adults who want to improve their literacy skills. Our mandate is to serve Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents. Many are newcomers to Canada who would like to improve their English language skills.

The program is designed to assist adults in the areas of: reading, writing, speaking, listening and math. Volunteer tutors work one-on-one with students on topics of the student's choice, at a pace tailored to each student's needs.

Most of our volunteers spend two hours a week making a difference in another person's life. The pairs meet at a time that is mutually convenient, usually at the Dawe Library, though sometimes at another public place. We provide training and ongoing support to our tutors.

If you are interested in making a difference in someone's life, empowering them with skills and confidence, consider volunteering with us. If you or someone you know, would like help with reading, writing, pronunciation and/or math please stop in and see us at Lion Plaza. For more information, please phone 346-2533, visit us at Unit #2 7710 - 50 Ave., or email us at adlit@rdpl.org.

During 2007 the Library spent the second of its $135,000 Library Service Grants (LSG), a funding project of Alberta Municipal Affairs & Housing's Libraries Branch.

Read this report on the projects, services, and programs that were made possible thanks to this initiative.

Many thanks to the Minister and staff of the Department for making these funds available. Thanks also go to our local MLA Mary Anne Jablonski and former MLA Victor Doerksen, for their support in making new provincial funds available to public libraries.

The Library broke new ground in the past two years thanks partly to this grant program. The Library has created a more interactive suite of programs and services based on Community Development principles: social justice, participation, equality, learning and cooperation.

Finally, thanks should go to the Library Board for their help in planning LSG programs, and to the Library Management Team and staff for making everything happen.

Join Chris Turner for a presentation on his world travels in search of positive responses to the environmental challenges we face.

This event, in the Snell Auditorium next Thursday evening, January 31 at 7:00 p.m., is a presentation by Rethink Red Deer, RDC Green Campus, and Sustainable Red Deer. Admission is free.

Chris Turner, by the way, is also the author of Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Documented an Era and Defined a Generation.

"Starting in 2008, The City will consult with residents to produce a long-range sustainability plan for Red Deer but we can all start today, right now - why wait?" - from the City of Red Deer's Inside Out: get the document here (PDF format).

The environmental challenge in Inside Out is for each of us to get started with small things, as we begin to think about the big picture of planning for a more sustainable Red Deer.  We're doing that here at Red Deer Public Library: small things like recycling office paper, newspapers and discarded books; and using recycled materials in our children's programs.  We're also implementing slightly bigger ideas: replacing old light fixtures with more efficient ones, and building sustainability into our revitalized Dawe Branch.

It's nice to know that we can do small things together that are more environmentally sustainable.  Borrowing books, CDs and DVDs is one of the best ways of doing the reduce/recycle/reuse thing.  Donating your books to the Friends of the Library is a great way to reduce clutter at home and help out the Library at the same time.

Now that you're thinking of coming to the Library, come on down on the bus.  Or why not hop on your bike - it's not that cold out!

Let me know how you think Red Deer Public Library can do more for our environment - leave a comment.

I'm in Monterey, at the Internet Librarian 2007 Conference.  Yesterday I gave a presentation entitled The Library 2.0 Process Toolkit, which was well received.  Here is the PPT file.

Last night we said goodbye to three Library Board members: Suzanne Alexander-Smith was on the Board for 6 years.  Nancy Batty is retiring after 7 years on the Board (and 3 as Board Chair).   Colleen Nederlof served for 4 years. 

Here they are with their shiny new Gold Cards, and Library Board Chair Mike Todd.  Suzanne will be staying on the Library Council (which manages our partnership with Red Deer College Library) as a member from the community at large.

Thanks so much to these fine people for their hard work and imagination on behalf of the community!

I was nearly picked up by the Jail-n-Bail crew from the Canadian Cancer Society today. They even had the cuffs on me.

I wasn't able to visit the judge this afternoon, so I was let off with a warning. I feel (a little bit) bad about the fact that Cory Stier, my IT Librarian, was carted off to jail in my place. So I'm inviting you all to make a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society here. Tell them Dean sent you, and if you're feeling sentimental, you might mention Cory.

If Cory is still behind bars when I'm back from California, I'll see if there's something else I can do to get him released.

...and he looked such a nice sort.

I'm off to Monterey, California, to make a presentation to the Internet Librarian 2007 Conference about RDPL's Community Development activities.  I will be highlighting our Artsparks program, the Election Forum website, the Art Lending program, and our many web projects, including Digital Red Deer, the Villa-Lobos Website, and others. 

It's always great to talk about what we're up to here in Red Deer, and I look forward to meeting lots of librarians and assorted geeks in hazy California.

A Message from Ian E. Wilson, Librarian & Archivist of Canada

Canadian Library Month is a celebration of libraries and the people who work in them. Libraries play a key role in the social, cultural and economic life of communities, providing residents with a place to read, learn and share. In my observations of libraries and library staff in Canada, I am always struck by the ingenuity, creativity and innovation that define library service. These institutions have kept pace with changes in the information environment by constantly finding new ways to make information available and accessible, while encouraging partnerships and collaboration.

Canada is one of the most diverse countries in the world and we can take great pride in its rich and varied social fabric. Libraries in Canada are meeting the challenge of contributing to the continuous learning process of all Canadians and of addressing the various information needs of our communities. Libraries are at the very core of Canada's success in ensuring inclusive service in a knowledge-based society. They promote the health of Canada's economy and stimulate intellectual curiosity and knowledge sharing.

On the occasion of Canadian Library Month, join us in celebrating the commitment, dedication and passion of library staff across the country.

Ian E. Wilson
Librarian and Archivist of Canada

- Watch for special programs at RDPL during Canadian Library Month - October 2007.

The Earthdance 2007 celebration in Red Deer was a big success.  RDPL was involved in the planning, and provided some very successful programming support.  Here is a clip about our celebration from Edmonton's CityTV Your City News show:

Here is a promo [download MP3] for the upcoming Fiddler on the Roof Jr. show from one of RDPL's partner organizations, Tree House Youth Theatre, directed by our own artsparks on the Boards Artistic Director Matt Gould.  Here is more information on the show:

Sept. 13-15 — Fiddler on the Roof Jr. Treehouse Youth Theatre production. Memorial Centre, 7:30 p.m. plus $2 p.m. Sept. 15. Tickets $17 plus service charges from the Black Knight Ticket Centre: online at http://www.blackknightinn.ca/new_page_16.htm or by phone at 343-6666 or 1-800-661-8973.

Sept. 13, 2007 addition: Hey, while we're on the subject, check out this brand-new blog posting from CBC Radio 2:

http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/blog/2007/09/13/fiddler_on_the_tonic.html

which mentions these recent articles on Fiddler:

http://www.forward.com/articles/1710/
and
http://www.forward.com/articles/2422/

"Give Peace a Dance!

Join the Global Festival for Peace on Saturday, September 15, 2007

In Downtown Red Deer

On September 15, people around the world will be playing for peace.  Discover what you can do to support global peace:

Dance! Make Art! Make Music! Learn!

Earthdance Celebrations

11 a.m. - noon - "A Journey in the History of Water" and other programs at the Library
noon -1 p.m. - Lunch around town. Look for Earthdance supporting restaurants
1p.m. - 4 p.m. Events throughout downtown Red Deer - in parks, businesses, the HUB, the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery and more.
4:15 p.m. Community Peace Drum Circle at Heritage Square
5:00 p.m. Community Prayer for Peace at Heritage Square
At exactly 5 p.m, join over 250 communities world-wide reciting a synchronized Prayer for Peace  (If it rains drum circle and prayer will take place at Gaetz United Church, Pioneer Hall)

Join us for Fundraisers at the Vat August 23 and September 7, 2007

Proceeds to go to Kerry Wood Nature Centre

For more information, visit http://www.earthdance.org or call Tanya at 342-6648"

from Tatiana Poliakevitch, RDPL's Community Development Librarian

And the award for Excellence in Being Average goes to...  Red Deer!

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/census/marketing.html

Actually, that's putting it one way - another, nicer, way is that Red Deer is (English) Canada's Most Representative City.  This gives Red Deer Public Library some additional credibility as we present our marketing-based library programs and services to our community, and to other communities in Canada and around the world.