First Nations celebrate Public Library Week

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February is a great month for lovers-book lovers, that is. Feb. 9 to 14 was First Nations Public Library Week. Later this month, Feb. 22 to 28, it's Freedom to Read Week.

Leading up to these events, librarians from across the province met in Toronto Jan. 29 to 31, for the annual conference of the Ontario Public Library Association. Speakers at the "Celebrate First Nations Public Library Week at Your Library" workshop discussed developments over the past four years, and shared ideas for making the week a success. On hand were three librarians, Barb Lewis (M'Chigeeng Public Library), Patricia Taylor (Curve Lake First Nation), and Wanda Nogonash (Magnetawan). Joining them were Patty Lawlor, First Nations' consultant with the Southern Ontario Library Service; Donna Brown, Ontario Library Service North; and Andrew Ryder, Ontario Library Service.

This year, the theme for library week, Winter Stove Stories at Your Library, recognized the important role of the winter stove as a gathering place.

"The smaller towns understand the winter stove," said Nogonash.

At the conference, two key topics were "First Nations Communities Read," and the "Grade 1 Give-Away Books."

One community, one book, is the idea behind the community read. This year, the book everyone will be reading is Solomon's Tree, by Andrea Spalding. Canadian Heritage and Orca Publishers are donating a copy of Solomon's Tree to each First Nation Public Library.

Nogonash said at her library, she planned activities using Solomon's Tree to celebrate the week. Day 1, she had the children plant something. Day 2, they had a visitor talk about ceremonies. Day 3, they did an activity with masks, and Day 4 was reserved for a feast and drumming.

The Canadian Children's Book Centre, the TD Bank, and Second Story Press provided the Grade 1 give-away books (one to each child in Grade 1).

The Ontario Library Association acts as the liaison to distribute the books to First Nations communities. School boards distribute the books in non-Native communities.

"Libraries provide living memories," and contribute to their communities said Nogonash. She added, "They support better living conditions and a successful workforce. Health programs operate out of libraries, and most [First Nations] libraries are CAP sites."

During First Nations Public Library Week last year, said Taylor, "90 people came in the first day."

Lawlor pointed out that "First Nations Public Library Week does not have a budget." She added she is "not trying to demonstrate how you can get along without a budget-they would like to get money too. First Nations public libraries do not receive municipal funding. The federal government directs funding into specific programs, but no funding is dedicated to First Nations public libraries."

Lawlor said libraries need more support to hire full-time staff and expand their hours, as most have a single staff person and are only open part time. One of the libraries she works with has annual funding of just $196. She said librarians would like "the support of band councils for libraries and stable funding for libraries and wages for library workers."

As one measure of the success of Ontario's First Nations Public Library Week, this year Saskatchewan adopted the model for its own Aboriginal Storytelling Week, which began Feb. 9.