Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Read this:
Now, go here and look up your Member of Parliament. Then, fire off an email telling them that you're not in favour of this move, and insist the book discount rate continue.
The Canadian Library Association is calling on Canada Post to continue subsidizing inter-library book exchanges across the country. Most rural libraries rely on Canada Post to send books back and forth for patrons at a subsidized rate of less than $1 per book. But under a new plan proposed to take effect in April 2006, libraries would be charged commercial rates – which could cost as much as $14 per book. Onagh Williamson, librarian at the Reston and District Library, told CBC News if the change goes ahead, many rural libraries will not be able to afford to take part in the inter-library service, and that means readers will have access to fewer books.
The full story can be found here.
Dear Mrs. Neville,
I recently read this on the CBC Manitoba website:
«The Canadian Library Association is calling on Canada Post to continue subsidizing inter-library book exchanges across the country. Most rural libraries rely on Canada Post to send books back and forth for patrons at a subsidized rate of less than $1 per book. But under a new plan proposed to take effect in April 2006, libraries would be charged commercial rates – which could cost as much as $14 per book. Onagh Williamson, librarian at the Reston and District Library, told CBC News if the change goes ahead, many rural libraries will not be able to afford to take part in the inter-library service, and that means readers will have access to fewer books»
I grew up as a rural-born (though now urban) Canadian. I can thankfully say that I grew up without television - loaning books from the library was less expensive for my parents than subscribing to satellite television.
I believe programs like these are invaluable tools for the education of our citizens by maintaining rural Canadians in some semblance of a literate culture. When books are more expensive, people rely on television, and though I don`t know what you`re views on television are, for a culture scholar such as myself, television could be considered one of the greatest plagues to literacy of our time. Alas, I wish not to digress. I cannot emphasize enough how much I wish for this wonderful program to continue. Canada Post, as a government corporation, has a responsibility to look beyond the bottom line.
Please save the program.
Thank you,
James Johnston
haha wow, that sounds eerily like the email I sent to her.
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