John Wood speaks in Red Deer

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.