Love of words – isn’t that why many of us became librarians? Literature ignites our enthusiasm, passion, and commitment. Just as libraries played an essential part in the blossoming of the small press and literary magazine movement in Canada throughout the heyday of print, now during this unsettled period of the digital shift, libraries can lead the way when it comes to supporting the transfigurative power of Canadian Literature.
Find out what two neighbouring library systems, one public and one academic, are doing to support Canadian literature in a variety of ways – some very traditional and some very new. Learn about a mixture of undertakings such as website creation, common book programs, literary awards, as well as recent explorations into new ways to support small press literary magazines.
Outcomes:
– New Models for Supporting Canadian Literature
– Building resources and collections like McMaster’s Historical Perspectives
– Running common book programs
– Supporting literary award programs like Hamilton Public Library’s Power of the Pen for youth and The Short Works Prize for other age groups
– Experimenting with new collection development models like the Hamilton Arts & Letters institutional membership
– Discover the cultural, social, and economic impact of literary magazines in Canada
