October is Library Month in Canada, and we’re celebrating CUPE library workers and the invaluable services they provide. CUPE is launching a new poster, with the slogan “Library workers unlock doors to a world of possibilities”. You can download and print the poster to join in this important celebration and to acknowledge all that library workers do to support our communities, schools, and post-secondary institutions.
Libraries are not just buildings that hold books. There is so much that goes on within their walls thanks to the passion, skill, and creativity of library workers.
To highlight the crucial contributions of library workers, we spent time this summer speaking with members who work in public, school, and post-secondary libraries across the country. The message we heard from them is clear: library workers unlock doors to a world of possibilities! Have a look at some of the profiles we will be featuring this month:
Haidee O’Brien, a member of CUPE 718, runs babytimes and puppet shows at the Richmond Public Library in British Columbia, and she’s organized public talks with authors, including Michael Ondaatje.
Jenn Cooke, a member of CUPE 1453, runs Allies for All at Saint Catherine Catholic Elementary School in Ontario. She provides students with a safe space to have conversations about racism, diversity, and issues facing 2SLGBTQI+ people and persons with disabilities.
Kathleen Brennan, a member of CUPE 2157, helps promote equity, diversity, and inclusion at Keyano College in Alberta, through the LibGuides she creates that organize and showcase library resources and services that focus on these themes and are available for research and study.
Haidee, Jenn, and Kathleen show us there’s so much more to library work than many of us might think. To learn more, check out our profiles page to read their stories and those of other CUPE library workers. They help us understand the scope of library work, the vital services library workers provide, and the challenges they face – like understaffing, underfunding, and threats of closure.
Libraries possess the power to change peoples’ lives. Take a moment this month to show your appreciation for library workers and the positive impact they have had on your life or that of a family member.
