First Nations Public Library Week celebrates 15 years

By Marci Becking

NIPISSING FIRST NATION – Former librarians were honoured during First Nations Public Library Week at Nipissing First Nation’s public library in Garden Village.

Rita Goulais, Karen Commanda and Glenna Beaucage all contributed something different to the Nipissing First Nation library – making it a great place for citizens to access resources, services and programs in their community.

Current librarian, Christina Beaucage says that Rita Goulais started up the library in the early 1980s by putting a call-out for books.

“These were the days long before computer systems and she kept track of the book inventory with paper and a typewriter,” says Beaucage.

Karen Commanda took over in 1989 and in her 16 years of service, she ensured that the library had updated computers, books and software.  She also created opportunities for high school students to have after-school jobs.

Commanda was also the librarian on staff when the First Nations Public Library Week started 15 years ago.

“We were always a part of the Ontario Library Service but it didn’t fulfill the needs I had as a First Nations librarian,” says Commanda.  “Originally we started the First Nations Public Library week in June, but many of the storytellers who participated in events shared their stories in the winter – so we changed the week to be held in February.”

Glenna Beaucage was integral in bringing culture and language into Nipissing First Nation’s library program.  She was also the librarian who brought the library into the PALS (Public and Academic Library Sharing) program.   The PALS program enables Nipissing First Nation library card holders access to books and resources from other libraries in the region –including the Harris Learning Library at Nipissing University and Canadore College.

Christina Beaucage says that this year’s theme of Creating Connections –Building Bridges Together is about partnerships.  She provides literacy outreach as well as cultural sensitivity training with the separate school board.

She says that the main challenge that the library has is that she is the only employee.

Since 2000, First Nation Public Libraries have used one week every February to raise awareness of their resources, services, programs and activities.  In First Nation communities, this week is not only an opportunity to promote public library services, but it also celebrates cultural uniqueness through creative library programming.

As a multi-level, multi-purpose program that encourages all Ontario libraries to join in its celebration, First Nations Public Library Week is an event that can be enjoyed by library patrons and community members across the province.