February 29, 2008

CREATING ACCESSIBLE LIBRARIES ACROSS ONTARIO

McGuinty Government Supports Ontario’s Public Libraries

WEST PERTH — The West Perth Public Library broke ground today on an expansion that will make it more accessible to people with disabilities.

The $700,000-expansion project is one of several across Ontario partially funded by the provincial government. Other library expansion projects include:

• Nipigon Public Library
• West Lincoln Public Library in Caistorville
• Sault Ste Marie Public Library

Ontario invests over $28 million annually in the province’s public and First Nations libraries.

West Perth Public Library is one of 156 Carnegie libraries across Ontario and one of 2,500 around the world. Carnegie libraries are the legacy of wealthy philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie, who donated more than $56 million in the late 1800s to build public libraries that would be accessible to anyone who wanted to learn. The expansion project at West Perth Library will include retrofitting the existing Carnegie public library building.

“Our government is a proud partner in this project which will allow the West Perth Public Library’s collection and services to be more accessible,” said Culture Minister Aileen Carroll.

“By investing in this expansion, the Ontario government is helping ensure our rural libraries are more accessible for everyone,” said John Wilkinson, MPP, Perth-Wellington. "Facilities such as our West Perth Library are the cornerstone of family life in our rural communities.”

“We are very pleased to be starting on this important and much needed addition and renovation at our library,” said West Perth Mayor John Van Bakel. “We appreciate all the help we have received from library staff, the provincial government and all others involved.”

 

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Contacts:

Alicia Johnston, Minister’s Office, (416) 325-1676
Mark Thompson, Communications Branch, (416) 314-3497