Sep 29

Written by: Joe Longo
Saturday, September 29, 2007 

The Battle of the Borrowed Books will be held during the month of October between the Public Libraries of Niagara-on-the-Lake & Niagara Falls, Ontario versus Youngstown, Lewiston & Niagara Falls, New York. These five public libraries along the Niagara River have issued a call to arms to encourage the public to borrow more library books during October in a contest between American and Canadian readers!

Arm yourself with a library book and help your country achieve victory in the "Battle of Borrowed Books" to see which side of the Niagara River can produce the higher percentage increase in borrowing during the month of October 2007 compared to October 2006. In October 2006 34,559 books, magazines and audio visual materials were borrowed from the American libraries and 63,060 were borrowed from the Canadian libraries. Which side will see the higher percentage increase?

Don't let your side down. March to your local library and take aim at a great selection of books on many interesting subjects. The winning side will have bragging rights for many years in this friendly war of words. The five libraries hope to see a 2.5% increase in borrowing in October which will result in over 100,000 library books and other materials in the hands of our residents. Public library cards are issued free of charge to the 170,000 residents in the five communities and there are 778,000 books and other materials available for borrowing.

As we commemorate almost 200 years of peace between our two countries, enlist now at your library to strengthen increased reading in our community. These libraries and this month were chosen because the 195th anniversary of the Battle of Queenston Heights is Oct. 13th. The battle took place in 1812 near Queenston Ontario and was the largest to date in the War of 1812 between the United States led by Stephen Van Rensselaer and the British led by Sir Isaac Brock. Each library will display books about the War of 1812 during October so the public can have a better understanding of this important conflict.

Do your part! Increase your borrowing during October to help readers at the Canadian public libraries achieve victory!

The next Philosophers' Cafe is scheduled for Oct. 1 at 7:00pm in the Rosberg Gallery of the Victoria Avenue Library. The theme is "Beauty". Potential avenues of dialogue could include how do we identify beauty; has it influenced your life; what does beauty give us? The philosopher facilitator is Judy MacCarthy.