Moncton Public Library

Moncton Public Libary Logo

The Moncton Public Library (MPL) in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, aims to meet the educational, cultural, informational and recreational needs of its users. The Moncton Public Library provides access to a province-wide collection of more than 1.8 million items, 116,000 of which are on its shelves.^[1] The library is a primary source of support for literacy and lifelong learning for residents of the greater Moncton area.^[2] There is only one main branch in the city located on Main Street in downtown Moncton.^[3]

History

The Moncton Public Library was founded in 1913.^[4] It is currently located in the Blue Cross building where it has been since 1989. The library's previous location on Highfield Street was renovated to accommodate office space in 1991.^[5]

Naming

In 1998 the City of Moncton's name bank committee suggested that the Moncton Public Library change its name to the Northrup Frye Library to honour the acclaimed literary critic Northrup Frye who lived in Moncton during his early years. However the library board of the time disagreed on the grounds that though Frye has a great international reputation and is a renowned and celebrated philosopher and critic he "has done nothing for the Moncton Public Library itself".^[6] The board was also concerned that if the library were to become The Northrup Frye Library, citizens might get the impression that the public library was instead an archive dedicated to Frye and his works. A meeting room inside the library, the Northrup Frye room, and a permanent display of books is how the library honours this famous Monctonian. A display also features a clock and a typewriter that belonged to the Frye family while he was living in Moncton.

Collections

• Book collection includes bestsellers, fiction and non fiction for a wide variety of research and recreational purposes as well as large print books, audiobooks, music, DVDs and videos, magazines, language kits, adult literacy materials, talking books for the visually and/or physically challenged and braille books for children.
• E-books and Audio Books can also be loaned via the Electronic Library New Bruswick with a New Brunswick Library card.
• Microfilm archive includes Moncton and area newspapers dating back to the late 18th century, census information and telephone directories.
• Heritage room archive includes local historical and genealogical books and works by authors from the Albert Westmorland Kent area.

Programs

• Programs for children including Babies in the Library, Toddlertime, Storytime, Family Storytime and Father and Son Lego Club.
• Programs for Young Adults including a monthly Anime and Manga club, and monthly programs on a variety of different themes including gaming in the library and different crafts.
• Programs for adults including computer courses, one-one-one email tutorials and other information literacy courses such as genealogy research online, newspapers online, shopping online and social networking. There are also author tours, learning seminars, and a variety of other programs for adults and seniors.
• Monthly art openings introduce new artists exhibiting at the Moncton Public Library art gallery.
• Services for Patrons with Print Disabilites including an adaptive computer workstation with SystemAccess, Zoomtext, OpenBook and Kurzweil 3000.

Fundraising

The Magnum Opus Gala and Art Auction was the Moncton Public Library's main fundraising event from 2007 to 2010. Taking place in October the art auction was an opportunity to raise funds for improvement of library collections, but also offered "artists across Atlantic Canada the opportunity to get exposure for their work and the chance to sell a piece of their art."^[7]

External links

• New Brunswick Public Library Service
• Moncton Public Library
• Bibliothèque Publique de Moncton
• Service Model for Patrons with Print Disabilities
• Electronic Library New Brunswick

References

1. ^ City of Moncton Cultural Plan
2. ^ Moncton Public Library
3. ^ Library Hours and Location
4. ^ About the Library
5. ^ Old city library to be turned into office building. Times and Transcript, Friday, November 23, 1990
6. ^ Library board doesn't want to use Frye name. Times and Transcript, Friday, December 18th, 1998
7. ^ Babstock, Craig "http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/rss/article/811309, The Times and Transcript, October 2, 2009, accessed June 22, 2011