October is Canadian Library Month, and the third week of the month is Ontario Public Library Week. One of the pillars of public library service is a commitment to intellectual freedom and providing access to a broad range of ideas and content.

The Canadian Federation of Library Associations statement on Intellectual Freedom “holds that libraries are a key institution in Canada for rendering expressive content accessible and affordable to all. Libraries are essential gateways for all persons living in Canada to advance themselves through literacy, lifelong learning, social engagement, and cultural enrichment.” This means making a wide array of ideas, opinions and thought available to all.

Part of this commitment is recognizing the importance of privacy. You can read any book you want, from the library and we will protect your privacy.  We also provide information and access to materials without judgement. You can ask us for a book on any topic that interests you without fear of being judged or criticized for it. Reading widely and a broad array of perspectives can help you develop a more well-rounded knowledge of a topic while also increasing your understanding of the perspectives of others.

The Centre for Free Expression maintains a database of challenges that libraries have faced. It’s available at cfe.torontomu.ca. Looking at children’s materials that have been challenged, you will see everything from Star Wars Early Readers to the Muppets Wizard of Oz on DVD and beyond.  If libraries removed every title that was challenged across North America, the shelves would be quite bare.

At the County of Prince Edward Public Library & Archives we are committed to providing access to a wide array of ideas and information and helping you find what you need.

UPCOMING EVENT: Don’t miss the Women Killing It Crime Writers Festival featuring three authors on Saturday, October 21. Vanessa Westermann, author of Cover Art, Carolyn Whitzman author of Clara at the Door with a Revolver and Catherine Fogarty, author of Someone You Know will all discuss their work.  Cover Art asks the question: Death by chocolate is one thing, but what about death by poisoned chocolate? Clara at the Door with a Revolver is a look into a historic murder trial of the first woman to take the stand in her own defense, and Someone You Know is an unforgettable collection of true crime stories in which family and love turn fatal. Tickets are $40 and include a light lunch. Come enjoy the newly expanded Picton Branch Library and hear from three outstanding authors.  Find out more and get tickets at peclibrary.org or at any branch of the library.

-Liz Zylstra