Peterborough Examiner Referrer

One week, three good-news stories

ROSEMARY GANLEY REACH WRITER, ACTIVIST AND TEACHER ROSEMARY GANLEY AT RGANLEY2016@GMAIL.COM.

This week I highlight three recent experiences showing the healthy state of discussion and the many talents in our city. All took place over one week, in these depths of winter, and at a total cost of $22.

I went to the public library for a free, hour-long help session on technology with the personable Jayden; then to the Theatre Guild on Rogers Street for a play directed by Jane Werger, and lastly to an interesting talk at Traill College by a graduate, Jeanette Menzies, who is Canada’s ambassador to Iceland.

I had received a notice from the province that I must set up my age-related driving test. At the baffling words, “Just scan the QR code,” I knew that I needed help. The Peterborough Public Library, of course.

People are pleased with the modern, renovated library with its open foyer, collection of 300,000 physical items, (books, magazines, music and audiobooks) and 200,000 digital holdings. Membership is free for citizens. There is free wi-fi and, in a popular move, all fines for overdue items were removed last year.

There is a small parking lot, and more spaces across the street at what was once the Baskin Robbins factory. Along with park benches and a bike rack, there is a dramatic billowing sculpture entitled “Your Story.”

“One should really go inside and ponder,” says Jennifer Jones, the lively chief librarian.

She is from Welland and attended Western University, earning a Master of Library Science degree. She is a fan of Electric City FC, the local soccer team (has the scarf and all).

About the recent controversy over a trans person reading at story time, Jones says, “We are an inclusive facility, and the reader was recommended to us.” She works closely with the manager of library services, Mark Stewart, and a staff of 27 full- and part-time people.

Jones tells me the library has an excellent relationship with the nearby supervised injection site. Security people are on hand whenever the library is open. Its annual budget, mostly funded by the city, is $3.5 million.

“We have a foot in two worlds, between the old and the new,” says Jones. “I think books will endure, but we also want to help people access the new ways of learning.”

The library had 20,000 active card holders in 2021, and 181,000 in-person visits in 2022. For usage, Peterborough ranks third among seven similarsized cities. In 2024, the library will open a branch in the athletics-aquatic centre to be constructed at the corner of Park and Lansdowne streets.

Jones would like to see branches in the north, west and east sections of the city, and is in conversation with Trent University and Fleming College.

As for relevant theatre in our town, “The Crucible” has been playing to enthusiastic houses this month. Written by Arthur Miller in the 1950s at the height of the McCarthy Committee hearings, it explores hysteria, lies and a fundamentalist religious atmosphere in a small Massachusetts town, that led to the execution of 16 women as “witches” in the 17th century. We could hear echoes of our own times.

The cast, including Kevin O’Neill and Christopher Spear, magically blurred the line between audience-as-observers and as participants.

A snowy stroll over to the friendly Traill College on Dublin Street brought me to the talk by Ms. Menzies. It was free, as are five other community talks this winter. Menzies graduated from Trent 23 years ago. She had been drawn to Peterborough from Winnipeg by president Thomas Symons, and reading his book, “To Know Ourselves.”

Her stories of life in Iceland were memorable, including her cycle around the large island, efforts to learn Icelandic and discussions with other diplomats posted there about how to deal with the Russian ambassador.

OPINION

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2023-02-02T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-02-02T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://thepeexaminerepaper.pressreader.com/article/281578064808875

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