Oct 27

Written by: Joe Longo
Saturday, October 27, 2007 

Arts & Culture Week in Niagara Falls turns the spotlight on the vital contribution that arts and culture make in learning and in life. The public library is a major institution promoting local literary arts, visual arts, performing arts and heritage.

Our library strives is to be an informational, educational, cultural and recreational resource valued by the Niagara Falls community as a vital asset enhancing the quality of life by providing free and equitable access to information. This includes materials for relaxation and pleasure to refresh, enrich, inspire and challenge the spirit.

We endeavor to promote intellectual and cultural exploration, the joy of reading and the pursuit of knowledge for people of all ages and backgrounds, beginning with the very young. Libraries help connect people to each other and play an important role in building a strong community. The library encourages lifelong, individual learning and literacy.

The Rosberg Gallery at the Victoria Avenue Library presents monthly exhibitions by Niagara artists. The artwork of Nisar Nian is currently on view and Darlene Moore brings her mixed media in November.

Musical recitals, book discussion groups, children's programs and heritage resources are promoted regularly at the library. Our collections of books, magazines, compact discs and DVDs are central to our service. Electronic databases on our website www.nfpl.library.on.ca accesses information beyond the library building to virtual world-wide networks.

Last November Glen Murray, urban strategist and former Mayor of Winnipeg, spoke at the MacBain Community Centre about transforming Niagara through culture. Previously he had written about the importance of public institutions as contributing to our sense of place. He wrote that "public institutions like the Post Office, the library, and the liquor store have been gathering places in communities for generations. Strategically used to leverage economic renewal, they not only restore a street but begin to rebuild a community's tax base." He reminds us that these institutions are like monopolies - being some of the most important retail outlets with some of the biggest generators of pedestrian traffic.

Municipal cultural planning recognizes that culture helps support the local economy and attract new employers and residents. It gives meaning and context to people's lives, engaging our minds, and helping to define the character of a community by giving residents a sense of pride in local landmarks and heritage. Culture engages residents from different cultures to help build a sense of community, welcoming all.