bibliotheque

happy fact: the halifax regional library located on spring garden road has three floors of bliss within its walls.



sad fact: the halifax regional library is not air-conditioned and has no ceiling fans. it was closed yesterday due to "extreme heat".



one of the most enriching buildings in the city was so unbelievably uncomfortable that all librarians, researchers, readers, writers and students were forced to board up the doors and head for the nearest body of water. when i hopped off the bus to arrive at my favorite stop, my heart broke. i wasn't upset only for myself (who happened to being craving new music and books) but for the volume of treasures undergoing potential ruin inside. why are there air-conditioners and fans inside of the majority of downtown restaurants and shopping areas but not inside of the library? why are pages and people being put in uncomfortable (and crinkly) situations in one building but not in the others? does it have anything to do with where money is being spent and where it is not?



this closure reminded me of something else worth discussion: that the public washrooms available in the library have been neglected for (what appears to be) at least fifteen years. stall doors are crippled, hand-dryers are bust, sinks are cracking and even the toilet paper dispensers are ripped from their hinges. two stalls per floor mean line-ups and traffic jams whereas the park lane mall boasts fifteen (+) stalls in its facilities (not to mention the public washrooms located within empire theatres, located a sweet ten steps away). why is our free, public-friendly learning place falling to pieces and our capital-wrangling toy store under constant renewal?



it doesn't seem fair to me that documents dating generations past might shrivel up and die in this heat when our lip balms and rubber boots are in no danger of in-store destruction. to sacrifice one group of people (who happen to be enjoying material things at no cost) to the scorching sun and allow another group of people (who enjoy another public place at a certain cost) comforts and shields from health issues that come with over-heating is ridiculous. i understand that the demographic of library-frequenters versus those who frequent restaurants, malls and shops varies at different times of day, days of the week and months of the year and that, in some cases, some people always and only choose one place of visitation (and/or expenditure). i know too that government funding is tricky and tweeze-y and if a particular, privately-owned business so chooses to install hot-weather comforts for its clientele then there should be little blocks in the road to choose otherwise. regardless, i feel it is high time for funding the necessities and comforts at the spring garden road memorial library. the building itself was erected in 1951 and its name was birthed from casualties from WWI and WWII. it is 2009 and the library is growing older and more decrepid and the h.r.m. best zip up their social-savvy suit to offer some financial aid to its library.

funny, too: i jaunted my way to the library this morning to check out the books and cds which i so craved the day before. i'm lucky i made it in time. as i was leaving the building, an announcement was made claiming the library would have to close again today at 2pm since working conditions were borderline unhealthy. after the announcement was made, i stomped back to the reservation desk and parked next to the comment box. furiously filling out my little yellow card (and using both sides), i urged the h.r.m. to get their buns off the toaster re: library health. cutting hours on workers and patrons leaves me with a rotten taste in my mouth and i know it's not just because i've got a wad on dressing in there.

i want any and all of you reading this to look at your own public libraries. are they being kept in order? is the material satisfactory? are you afraid of any beams overhead causing you harm as you browse? are the open hours standing true to their claims? find out who is accountable for your grievances and write letters. be open about your concerns and speak up about shitty deals. situations and services can't improve until someone pokes out the obvious flaws in them. speaking up about public service needs is a lot like noting someone's booger caught in their nostril. the face is fine, the person is lovely but there's an enormous bat smooshed just inside of their nose-cave. the bat will sit and stare back at you all day unless you point it out to the person housing it. after a moment of blushing and slight fumbling, better things ensue and no one's staring at snot anymore. treat your public service grievances as nostril boogs. point them out and everyone wins.

tomorrow i'll spend my afternoon break crafting and perfecting a direct letter to the h.r.m. and i will keep you updated on what response(s) are offered. i will try to keep my sass and snot factors low. fingers crossed.