UNESCO’s Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura describes this day as "a timely reminder that we should not take literacy for granted or underestimate its importance. For others, newly empowered by the acquisition of literacy skills, it is a moment to celebrate access to opportunities once beyond reach. It is an occasion, furthermore, to applaud the work of literacy tutors, extension workers and volunteers whose patient and persistent efforts make such a difference to people’s lives. However, it is for those excluded from the world of writing and written communication that International Literacy Day is most significant, for it symbolizes our collective commitment to address their literacy needs now and in the future." (International Literacy Day Address, 2003).
While we might not always see the effects of illiteracy in our own community it is a fact that 100 million children in the world have no access to education, and there are an estimated 860 million adults world-wide who cannot read or write.
Whether we are reading a novel, a newspaper, a Web site or a medicine bottle we are using the literacy skills that we often take for granted. International Literacy Day is a day to be thankful for our ability to access the worlds of information, entertainment and communication that literacy offers.
Library staff summer reads
Anwen: My summer pick is the film Mystic River (based on the novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane). The story is unbelievably gripping and despite the dark and disturbing storyline I could not stop watching. I was immediately drawn into the lives of the characters and the way their lives were linked together.
Beverly: The Song I Knew by Heart by Bret Lott
This modern day retelling of the story of Naomi and Ruth from the Bible explores the pain of loss, the joy of healing and the renewal of hope and faith in the gifts of God.
Erica: Snobs by Julian Fellows, c2004
This novel is like a present day Jane Austen tale, set in London and the English countryside. It involves an aristocratic family and a young, beautiful and opportunistic woman who is determined to marry into money and the aristocracy. This is no easy feat and the novel illustrates that the English upper class like to stick with their own kind and close ranks when someone attempts to infiltrate their world. I found it un-put-downable, guilty, gossipy entertainment and it kept me amused for a weekend. I loved it!
(Fellowes won an Oscar for his screenplay , Gosford Park )
Joan: "R" is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton
This book defines my idea of a summer read. This is the 18 th book in the "alphabet" series, starring private investigator Kinsey Milhone. "A is for Alibi" was published in 1982 and the author has come a long way in developing her style since then. Her last few books have been rather weak but the latest has an interesting plot, and lots more character development than in the previous novels. Interestingly enough though, the heroine has barely aged in the last 22 years – it is still only 1986 in the book! If you want a good book to curl up with this weekend, come check it out at the library.
Mike: My book of the summer is certainly Bill Bryson’s The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America . This book is Bryson’s account of his journey across America in search of the "perfect American town". As a Geography major with a dedicated interest in travel and long road trips, I found this book to be interesting, witty, and often perplexingly truthful.
Suzanne: The Book of Joe by Jonathan Tropper, c2004
This title was highly recommended to me by two library patrons. The Book of Joe is the unsentimental tale of Joe who, after a 17-year absence, returns to his childhood home and to the adolescence he's never really outgrown – a great read of sin, grace and redemption.
Community survey
The Library Board will be conducting a survey to better serve the needs of the community in planning library services. Please help us by filling in a survey at one of five locations (Nesters, The Grocery Store, Marketplace IGA, Creekside Market and Meadow Park Sports Centre) during the week of Sept. 13-19.
Storytimes
Sunday pre-school story time will start again on Sept. 12. It will run from 10:30 to 11 a.m. for children aged 2-6 and their caregivers. Each week we will have a new program of stories, songs, flannel board stories, finger rhymes and more. Friday pre-school story time held from 10:30 to 11 a.m. will also continue. No pre-registration is required. For information call the library at 932-5564. We look forward to seeing you there!
