With all the controversy and delays surrounding Powell River’s new public library, there is some good news about what libraries are for: books.
Recently, Powell River Friends of the Library, an organization that raises funds on behalf of the library to promote literacy, learning and public awareness, held its second 8x8 Anonymous Art Show and Sale at 32 Lakes Coffee Roasters and Café.
According to Ann Trousdell, the organization’s treasurer, the event caught on with people last year and a combined $12,000 was raised this year and last.
“It couldn’t have been more successful,” said Trousdell. “I was flabbergasted.”
Money raised goes directly toward purchasing new books for the new library.
“In early 2015, once we knew we were getting a new library and it was going to be three times the size of the current library, we committed to raising $100,000 for the new collection,” said Trousdell. To date, $50,000 has been raised.
According to assistant chief librarian Rebecca Burbank, the money is for what is being referred to as the “opening day collection.”
“It is library speak for a collection raised for a new library location, or when you have an expansion and all of a sudden there are new shelves that might be empty,” said Burbank.
From the $50,000, Burbank said the library has spent $35,000 on books to meet community needs with the increase in the size of the collection.
“Primarily, it’s been on all the big things people like to read,” she said. “We wanted to have some fresher things on the shelves in a couple of areas. We’ve kept it to print material.”
According to Trousdell, it was Burbank who had the idea for a “pop-up” library above the new library’s future location at Crossroads Village Shopping Centre. Titles Burbank has purchased are ready for the public to browse and borrow at the pop-up, Tuesdays through Thursdays from 10 am-2 pm.
Burbank said the influx of cash from Friends of the Library was a great opportunity to grow areas of the current collection that the public has shown a lot of interest in. Previously, funds were not available to increase areas such as easy readers for children, where the library has now doubled the size of that collection.
“It’s a genre of books that bridges the gap between picture books and children’s chapter books,” she said. “So when kids are learning to read on their own it’s one of those natural progressions. We find that kids and parents will come in and take an armful.”
The library has held back some funds to purchase additional books next year, said Burbank, as well as DVDs, CDs and video games.
According to Burbank, Friends of the Library’s fundraising success and the arrival of new books has been a big morale boost for the library and its staff, as most of the news coming from the delayed project has been bad.
“The good news has been wonderful,” she said. “It’s been great to be able to share that with staff, the Friends of the Library and celebrate this win for the library, and also tell the public that we know we’re not in the new space yet, but we have something new for when they come; we’re happy with that.”
According to Trousdell, the 8x8 paintings that did not sell at the show are on display at the pop-up library and can be purchased for $88 each.
