February: The month of book displays!

It’s been a full month of book displays at the Library! In case you missed it, here’s a quick summary of all that we’ve seen.

Blind Date with a Book

Photo credit: Mary Lynne Bartlett

This year’s Blind Date with a Book event was bigger than ever! It featured close to 400 wrapped books from our collections; special Valentine’s day cards with images from Special Collections & Archives; library hearts, and brand-new pin button designs. This year was also a return to the old-school, stylized movie posters that promoted the event, made by a retired library staff, Brian Campbell.

Students couldn’t keep away from the tempting books, cute buttons, and of course, our ever-so-clever library pins.

Black History Month

Photo credit: Mary Lynne Bartlett

Black History Month is celebrated at Dana Porter Library with a display that highlights four Black Canadians whose work has contributed to our diverse nation. You may have heard of Lawrence Hill, whose novel, The Book of Negroes, has won numerous literary awards. A novelist, educator, and documentary writer, and member of the Order of Canada, Lawrence Hill is considered an important contributor to Black culture in Canada. Poets are also featured here, including the former Parliamentary Poet Laureate George Elliott Clarke and award-winning Claire Harris. Finally, Cecil Foster, renaissance man, journalist, and storyteller whose works tell stories about hope, social justice and freedom, is our final featured biography.

Currently on display at Dana Porter Library, feel free to visit and view works by these acclaimed Canadians and pick up a special-edition button while you’re at it!

Freedom to Read Week

Need more book recommendations? Next week will feature books from Freedom to Read week at the Dana Porter Library. Come explore books in our collection that have been banned, burned, or challenged in the past. Read stories of censorship and our libraries and librarians who challenge it.

Interested in learning more or want to be more involved? Visit freedomtoread.ca or follow #Freedom_to_Read or #FTRWeek! You can see how other libraries and institutions are celebrating Freedom to Read week!