NB 852
Aug. 27, 2001
FREDERICTON (CNB) - Grand Manan is the newest member of the growing family of public-school libraries in New Brunswick.
Representatives of the Department of Education, School District 10 and the Village of Grand Manan signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) today establishing the roles and responsibilities of the three partners for the operation of the public-school library. The library, located in the newly renovated and expanded Grand Manan Community School, will open to the public and school population on Sept. 10.
Taking part in the signing, from left: District 10 Superintendent Greg West, Grand Manan Deputy Mayor William Daggett and Sylvie Nadeau, executive director of the New Brunswick Public Library Service. (Click here to access a 150 dpi photo.)
The Grand Manan Public-School Library was built as a partnership between the Department of Education and the Village of Grand Manan, which contributed $225,000 toward the total capital construction cost of $575,000.
"The co-operation between the Department of Education and the Village of Grand Manan in the construction of the public-school library is very much in keeping with our desire to work with communities to increase public use of schools," Education Minister Elvy Robichaud said. "This partnership, now also involving District 10, has been further cemented today with the signing of an MOU that ensures the people of Grand Manan will now have access to a public library.''
Robichaud said public libraries are an important tool in achieving literacy goals, a sentiment echoed by District 10 Superintendent Greg West.
"Literacy is obviously a high priority in School District 10, and we are excited about the benefits this agreement will bring to our students at Grand Manan Community School," West said.
Grand Manan Mayor Philman Green said members of the community are excited by the prospect of soon being able to visit a public library without leaving the island.
"The new public library is a valued addition to an isolated community such as ours and we are eagerly awaiting the opening of this facility," Green said.
The Grand Manan Public-School Library will be part of the Saint John Library Region of the New Brunswick Public Library Service. In addition to gaining access to the more than 1.8 million items in the provincial library collection, patrons will benefit from access to a complete range of library services. These include loan and inter-library loan of materials, reference service, access to electronic resources such as full text magazine and newspaper articles, free Internet access and reader's advisory. Residents will also be able to take advantage of a variety of popular programming activities such as the Summer Reading Club for children, story hours and public seminars.
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MEDIA CONTACTS: Steve Benteau, communications, Department of Education, 506-444-4714; Sylvie Nadeau, executive director, New Brunswick Public Library Service, 506-453-7141; Pamela Stevens-Earle, Regional Director, Saint John Library Region, 506-643-7247.
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