The Library Book: A History of Service to British Columbia

The year 2011 marks the centennial of the British Columbia Library Association, which was created by a small group of people eager to encourage library development in the province.
A library is all about sharing — pooling our resources so we all benefit. That kind of thinking helped the early fur traders get through the tough, cold winters, and made life more pleasant for early settlers from Europe. Through the years, libraries have grown in size and in scope. Today, there are hundreds of libraries — public, school, university, government and more — serving British Columbians. And they are not just about books any more. They provide a full range of services, including music, movies, access to the internet and programs for all ages. Libraries inform us, enlighten us and entertain us, helping British Columians achieve a higher level of literacy and learning.
The history of libraries in British Columbia has been shaped by many people, including Andrew Carnegie, Ethelbert Olaf Stuart Scholefield, Helen Gordon Stuart and Ray Culos. This book traces their work, and the development of libraries over the past century and a half. It also looks ahead at what is to come, and how libraries will continue to serve us for many more decades.
In the end, it all comes down to sharing — people working together for the common good.