FAMI LY
So much more than just books LIBRARY Your public By Jacqui Chaisson
While there is something to be said for the convenience of tablets and the Internet, the library remains a treasure trove for information-gathering. Discover, connect and explore at your local public library.
A lthough they still have stacks and stacks of great books, libraries aren't the soon-to-be-extinct dinosaurs that people once thought they'd become. The libraries of today, in addition to being meccas of culture, have evolved. The PEI Public Library Service boasts 26 libraries across the province. They may vary in size, but they all have one thing in common: they are community spaces that encourage you to soak in literature for as long as you wish.
the entire day if you'd like to; there's no such thing as loitering at the library," says Beth Clinton, librarian for Confederation Centre Public Library in Charlottetown. The library is free to join for residents of the Island and your membership is valid and interchangeable at all 26 locations in any of the three regions. "You can check out an item in Charlottetown and return it to Souris," says Clinton, "or use our online checkout service, Overdrive, 24 hours a day to download e-books, audio-books or Freegal to download music." As we sit in the main area of the Charlottetown library on a sunny August morning, the room is vibrant and buzzing. I look around, and I spot young families
pouring over the offerings in the children's section, business people quietly reading newspapers or having impromptu meetings, and a group of teenagers utilizing one of the 15 computers available for use. "The library is a true community space,” says Clinton. “It’s a perfect venue to host community events, meetings or public forums. We encourage partnerships and offer information sessions, cultural programs and other events." The library offers a variety of programs throughout the year, including those that bring generations and even species together. Examples are the computer lessons for seniors by local teen volunteers and the Paws to Read program, which
"Your local library is the one of the last free spaces where you are welcome to spend
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pei-living.ca FALL 2017
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