Inspiring learners
Summerside Rotary Library, Inspire Learning Centre officially opens
Since getting their library cards, Zoey and Brooklyn Arsenault trek to the Inspire Learning Centre every week.
“I never had a library card before so it was hard to check out books,” said Zoey.
Brooklyn added, “It’s important for kids to have the opportunity to come to the library. We’re really happy we get to.”
Rebecca Boulter, regional librarian at the Inspire Learning Centre, feels the same way.
“Since opening we’ve received an incredible amount of positive feedback. People really love the new facility. To hear people say they think of the centre as the heart of the community is really special.
“The whole idea going in was if we had a bigger space people would use the facility more. To have that proven is really great.” On Monday, the Rotary Club of Summerside cut the ribbon, officially celebrating the opening of the centre.
Ian Riseley, the president of Rotary International, travelled from Victoria, Australia to attend the opening.
“Personally, as a family, the Riseleys have embraced the importance of literacy from the very start … My children grew up in an environment where reading was critically important. I believe one of life’s great pleasures is reading to your children. They got to the stage where we would make up our own stories.
“It helps I think when children have a love of literacy early on, and that’s why I think the Inspire Learning Centre is so important. Literacy, love of reading, knowledge and understanding
are so important, and this is a most impressive effort by a local Rotary Club.”
Unofficially, the centre has been operating for about nine months, seeing thousands of Islanders through its doors each month.
“It’s taken four years, but here we are,” said Derek Key, the chairman of the steering committee for the Learning Centre project.
The process of bringing the new facility to fruition began with a community needs assessment, where the library, learning and literacy ranked at the top, said Key.
“We had a discussion to piece that together, and decide how we would make it happen.” When the location for the new library was decided, a functional plan was formed dictating the technology, space and accessibility. All leading up to the services it provides today.
“In the month of August, there were 14,000 visitations. I hope in 10 years somebody will come to us and say we need more space,” said Key.
He continued, “It’s critical to have this facility. There are foundational structures within any community and a place to learn is the most critical.” Seabille Bergeron-Dawe, a volunteer at the library agrees.
“I come here daily. It’s important Summerside have a facility like this. If we didn’t, there wouldn’t be the services for people who are learning to read and write.
“It makes me really happy to see people using this space, especially for the people who need the services and opportunities this library provides.”