Launching Adopt-a-Book campaign

“Adopt-A-Book’s goal is to put at least 1,000 new books on the shelves of the 10 library branches serving Digby, Shelburne and Yarmouth counties.” says Gary Archibald, chairman of the regional library board.

The campaign is the public’s opportunity to help improve their public library and it is more important than ever given the recent freeze placed on funding from the province, he says.

“Last year, the province did not provide any type of funding increase in its 2007-2008 budget, equaling a cut in our funding because of rising costs for everything from fuel to books to insurance,” Archibald said.

That and the requirement for public libraries to fundraise three per cent of their annual budget make this campaign critical.

“Our collection is getting older and Adopt-A-Book helps revive it by putting new material on our shelves that people want to borrow and read,” he said.

The Adopt-A-Book campaign runs until June 30. People and organizations can choose from a long list of new books and then adopt them for the branch of their choice. Every book adopted will have a nameplate acknowledging the adoption placed inside the front cover of the book.

People adopt books for many reasons, says Archibald. Sometimes it’s in the name of a loved one, a special teacher, a friend or even a newborn baby. Some choose to remain anonymous.

The average price of a book is between $25-30, but books are available for as little as $5. Any donation is gladly accepted from $1 to $1,000. In the last decade the library has raised over $140,000 through its Adopt-a-Book campaign.

For information about the Adopt-a-Book Campaign visit any branch library, or go online at www.westerncounties.ca . In Digby County, libraries are located in Westport, Digby, Weymouth and Meteghan.