It’s been two months since the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Whistler Public Library, and now it’s finally time to celebrate with “Libration” (think “library” meets “celebration”).
Organizers have planned a week full of festivities that will take place from Friday, April 11 to Thursday, April 17, and are inviting community members to come check out the new facility, with its environmentally friendly design, new technology, and beautiful views of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.
The library was founded in 1986, and first housed in a 1,400 square foot space in the basement of municipal hall. It was moved to a 2,800 square foot trailer space eight years later, where it housed a collection of 50,000 items and served up to 500 visitors per day.
In 2004, plans for the new library facility were finally approved, and construction began. On Jan. 26 this year, the doors were officially opened. The new 12,200 square foot space features stunning architecture and incorporates unique construction materials, an expanded children’s area, a cutting edge material borrowing system, and a variety of other technological upgrades.
Most of the Libration activities are free, unless otherwise specified, and all are hosted at the new Whistler Public Library facility.
Events kick off with a teen write-off on Friday evening, where participants present their own poems stories, essays, prose or rap.
The following night, four notable authors from the Vancouver area — David Chariandy, Shaena Lambert, Teresa McWhirter, and Timothy Taylor — come to the fireside of the new library to discuss influences for their recently published books. Whistler Reads founder, Paula Shackleton, will moderate the discussion, entitled “Writing On The Edge: Perspectives of B.C. Writers,” which attempts to answer a number of questions about Vancouver’s influence on these writers. Tickets are $10 at the door.
Whistler Forum president, William Roberts, moderates another forum on Sunday evening, though the subject matter and participants vary quite a bit. “Limits to Free Expression in Whistler: A Forum of Views,” will feature discussion between the moderator, Pique Newsmagazine editor Bob Barnett, Bill Evans of the Whistler Film Festival, and Lauren Stara of the library.
School children from the Lil’Wat Nation will perform First Nations drumming and dancing on Monday from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. The following afternoon, four local chefs will discuss their inspirations and favourite cookbooks. On Wednesday evening, come out for an evening of storytelling with Ivan Coyote.
Finally, on Thursday evening, enjoy a martini, hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment at the Gala Libration Martini Party. Both a celebration and a fundraiser, tickets to the wrap-up party are $75, and can be purchased at the WPL and Armchair Books.
For more information, visit www.whistlerlibrary.ca .
Meet Timothy Taylor and Teresa McWhirter
Timothy Taylor is a banker turned author who writes from an office in downtown Vancouver. His debut novel Stanley Park (Knopf 2001) was a popular success. Shortlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, Taylor uses his city as a character. “Timothy Taylor does it right…. (He) knows Vancouver’s arteries and bones. His portraits of that spectacular city… are as complex and well-rounded as a Tolstoy character.”
In his latest novel, Story House (Vintage 2007), he takes on the rarefied world of architectural design — with some boxing, fishing and reality TV thrown in. Find out how he writes with such insight about Vancouver-based characters and locales.
Teresa McWhirter is a graduate with distinction of the University of Victoria’s Creative Writing and English program. Teresa has two novels, Some Girls Do and Dirtbags (Anvil Press 2007) that depict gritty, tough, independent and sexual women. In Dirtbags Spider has moved from the Interior of B.C. and lives in a house with two other girls on the East Side of Vancouver, with everything that entails — drugs, parties and rock and roll. How will she negotiate the pitfalls? Characterized as writing about a fringe sub-culture, what does that really mean in Vancouver? Find out when you hear this talented author speak.
Next week, meet Shaena Lambert and David Chiriandy.
