Along with many other businesses and community spaces, the Hope Library has closed until further notice. I think we all know why. I truly hope everyone stays safe and healthy and that together we will defeat this virus.
But a little like Schrodinger’s cat, the library is both closed … and open. How can that be?
The library subscribes to a wide variety of digital content, including news & magazines, music & video, learning, and databases for learning. Kids’ stuff too!
A few examples:
You can download complete digital editions of magazines and audiobooks from RBDigital. Also on RBDigital, you can access ACORN TV, which is a whole lot of British TV and IndieFlix which has a whack of independent films. Kanopy is a video-streaming service featuring critically-acclaimed movies, inspiring documentaries, award-winning foreign films - and more – like animated kids’ books!
Tired of watching TV? Learn a new language with Mango Language —Pirate! How cool would it be to know how to speak Pirate!— or brush up on your skills (or learn new ones) with Lynda.com.
And even more for the kids? Interactive children’s books at BookFlix!
For free. It’s all for free, with your Fraser Valley Regional Library card.
So this is all fun stuff. But the jewel in the library digital crown is, in my opinion anyway, our collection of ebooks and audiobooks. Tons of choices, both in titles and in ways to download or stream. Visit our website (www.fvrl.bc.ca), go to “Digital Content,” “Ebooks & Audiobooks.” Easy peasy.
So you might be wondering at this point how is access to all this free library stuff possible? All you need is a library card. Don’t have a library card? I’ve heard that our library is currently working hard to find a way to make it possible to get a library card on-line! Watch our website and our social media channels (Twitter and Instagram) for details.
Check it out.
Which is an excellent segue! As the clock ticked down in 2019, I made the difficult decision to do “check out” and decided that 2020 would be the last year I would serve as Library Supervisor at Hope. A date was decided, changed, changed again, and then finally, finalized! Then the fates intervened and by the time the library re-opens, I’ll be living in a new community. Maybe with some chickens in the yard, definitely with a big stack of books (likely several will be on how to raise chickens!) close to hand, and a mug of coffee in my hand.
What an amazing ten or so years it has been. I’ve thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed serving this community by bringing in a variety of programs for adults and children and providing library service year after year. Being part of the community and participating in community events has enriched my life immeasurably. From the honour of laying a wreath at Remembrance Day to participating annually in the Brigade Days parade; to organizing Library Day at Storytime at the Park to partnering with ReadRight, Hope Community Services, Hope Arts Council, and the University of the Fraser Valley and many others. Amazing organizations and amazing people. Thank you all.
My philosophy of service has always been inclusivity. Libraries are no longer the quiet places of our childhoods. They are, or should be, places of great joy – of learning and growing and belonging. Respect, yes. But, in all, welcoming and happy places. My greatest joy over the years has come from serving our youngest community members. From storytimes, to sleepover shenanigans, to daycare visits, to Storytime in the Park – always with my trusted side-kick, Krackle, by my side. Children are our future.
And here’s a sneak preview - I had the good fortune to see and play with the latest additions to the FVRL Playground this week and I have to say that when the library does reopen there is going to be some pretty special surprises for our younger customers! I only wish I was going to be there to see the smiles when you see what the library has coming this summer!
Before I say my socially distanced, though heartfelt, final goodbye, there is one last group of people I would like to thank: The Friends of the Hope Library. You are an incredible group of volunteers!
To the Community of Hope: Goodbye! It’s been my pleasure and an honour to serve you.
Deb Ireland has served as the Library Supervisor in Hope for almost 10 years.
