Saskatchewan Library Week Background Information

Saskatchewan Library Week is a province-wide, annual event, which promotes the wonderful resources and services that libraries have to offer. Saskatchewan Library Week is celebrated throughout Saskatchewan in all types of libraries, in both urban and rural communities and by all age groups. The Saskatchewan Library Association has proudly presented this weeklong celebration since 1976.

We want the general public to know that libraries are…

• Dynamic, community centres for learning, information and entertainment;
• More than just printed materials but provide access to computers, the Internet and programs;
• Rare institutions that are within everyone’s reach, regardless of age, education or income level;
• The ultimate equal opportunity resource.

AND that librarians are…

• Well-trained, friendly, information experts who help people find whatever it is they are looking for;
• Information smart in an information rich world

Saskatchewan Library Week Beginnings

In 1974, the Canadian Library Association discontinued Young Canada’s Book Week. Since 1949, YCBW had provided a programming focus for children’s librarians and a stimulus for kids to read, but the cost of the cross-Canada distribution eventually became prohibitive.

I was Regional Librarian at Lakeland Library Region at that time, with a burgeoning interest in public relations. Karen Templin, then a children’s librarian with North Central Regional Library, Prince Albert, contacted me to see if I thought anything was possible on a provincial rather than a national scale. I called a group of interested people together (including Karen Labuik from North Central and Bill Johnson from the Provincial Library) and the first Saskatchewan Library Week was created from the ashes of YCBW in 1975. Bill’s art work graced the promotional materials for several years after that, and Provincial Library paid for the production and distribution of materials.

The Rt. Hon John Diefenbaker was the first patron of SLW. I was shocked to get a phone call from him in my office one morning. He called personally to make sure that I had all his honourary degrees listed and in the right order!

The theme for the first year was “Free your mind”.

1. Free your mind — John Diefenbaker, patron (1975)
2. Libraries for everyone — especially you — Max Braithwaite, patron (1976)
3. Your library — a place for all reasons — Edith Fowke, patron (1977)
4. Saskatchewan libraries — as big as all outdoors. Several patrons (1978)
5. Saskatchewan libraries — information for living — Prof. Kennedy, patron (1979)
6. Looking back toward the future — Maria Campbell, patron, 1980 (Sask. 75th anniversary)
6. Best bargain around — your public library — W.O. Mitchell, patron (1981)

Submitted by
Pat Cavill
Cavill Consulting
Calgary