New Brunswick Public Libraries Foundation

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Libraries to get new content about the environment

The Daily Gleaner – June 10, 2010

By Stephen Llewellyn
Llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com

Libraries to get new content about the environment

The New Brunswick Library Foundation is getting $30,000 from the provincial government's Environmental Trust Fund to buy hundreds of new books and audio-visual resources about the environment.

"The grant will be used to acquire for the public libraries and bookmobiles the latest environmental resources on topics such as the protection and restoration of the environment, sustainable development, conservation, environmental education and beautification," said foundation chairman Charles Ramsey.

"Environmental organizations, community groups, people of all ages will be able to use these resources to help increase their knowledge about how to reduce waste, improve water quality, conserve energy, protect the environment and learn about climate change issues."

He said there are 66 public libraries and bookmobiles in New Brunswick and the money will be divided evenly between five regions.

Ramsey said that because the regions loan books to each other upon request, multiple copies of the same book don't have to be purchased.

"These new resources will allow New Brunswickers to expand their lifelong learning opportunities and support environmental action and projects which will contribute to a sustainable environment," he said.

Cathy MacLaggan, chairwoman of the Fredericton Public Library board, said the funding is a wonderful announcement.

"I am especially pleased to see the emphasis is on the topic of environmental resources and specifically climate change as well," she said.

"That topic will be something that is very timely and extremely valuable to the province and especially to the people of New Brunswick and communities."

MacLaggan reminded people that the province also provides the library system with $200,000 in matching funding so individual donations to libraries are important.

Environment Minister Rick Miles said the trust fund is an important tool in educating the public about the environment.

The Environmental Trust Fund is providing $4 million for 172 environmental projects across the province in 2010-11.