Ina Pace
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Squamish Chief
After their most ‘successful’ summer yet, the library intends to continue navigating and providing resources for all ages, community sectors, and abilities.
With a new academic year comes new beginnings, and perhaps new pressures; the unexplored territory of new circles, puberty, and “levelling up” (academically).
The Squamish Public Library is on hand with ever expanding material, to help kids (and their caregivers) navigate their journeys, and keep learning about their own communities.
This summer saw the library’s most successful summer reading club ever, according to director Hilary Bloom, with around 550 participants, and a total of 16 programs.
“Compared to years past, I would say what was more noticeable was just that ongoing excitement,” she said.
“Excitement allows children to avoid that ‘summer slide’ (taking a break from reading), and it can be nice to just have something fun to encourage them.
“We’ve got school visits coming up. We’ve got a display in the kids’ area. Some Kindergarten readiness, and emotional learning materials.”
The library’s displays for the youngest kids involve interactive activities like colouring and crafting. Book genres range from high interest-low readability (hi-lo) and picture books, to teen “romantasy” and a non-fiction section, the latter of which Bloom said is popular.
The non-fiction books include material about the LGBTQIA+ community, the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), and resources (alongside sensory kits) adapted for those who are neurodivergent. Some books, for example, are printed in a font that supposedly makes easier reading for dyslexics.
Bloom credits the kids’ eagerness to engage as a result of dedicated library staff, whom she said over the last couple of years have developed programming, and created book lists spanning beyond story-time age, into school age children and tweens, and then into teens.
“We don’t prescribe it in an academic way,” she said.
Community engagement librarian Frankie Thomas called the library staff their “key resource.”
“(The staff talk about) next steps in all those kids’ literacy journeys and finding a path forward,” Thomas said.
“They can help direct individuals and families with what they need, and what you know about where they’re at.”
Awareness, and the availability of resources, is the essence of community connection it seems.
Bloom explained how the library tries to provide the widest availability of resources possible, without purporting to be experts or “completely exhausted,” regarding—for example—resources and knowledge about Indigenous communities, specifically the Nation.
“There’s always more that we could work towards providing, and there’s always more things being created and being made available. So really, our efforts are to try to make it easy for people to be able to access what we can provide through easily findable sites, book lists, and displays, and through our programming,” Bloom said.
“We try to be a source within the community for people to attend and participate in, to learn and connect more closely, and to continue to develop and foster our relationships with one another.”
The library’s “spirit of commitment to reconciliation,” Bloom elaborated, is nothing new. The Nation’s own TlatlaKwot Christine Baker is on the board. There was a call for an Indigenous artist back in April for a central Interior art installation bearing a written statement of acknowledgement, a fitting addition to the window art already on the building’s front by Coast Salish artist Siobhan Joseph.
Bloom said the library will also be arranging for a Nation weaver to set up a loom in the coming year, so folks may experience the crafting process of a wall hanging.
Besides having online Indigenous resources, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim (Squamish language) kits are also available at the library for checkout. These kits include a language dictionary, and a children’s bilingual storybook. Furthermore, the library has a section specifically dedicated to the history (and culture) of the Nation.
In light of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Sept. 30), there will be a workshop hosted by Kathi Camilleri about decolonization on Sept. 17, and an afternoon of story-telling by Squamish Elders on Sept. 25, in collaboration with the District of Squamish.
Folks can register for both events on the library’s website.
