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I had a long connection with UBC libraries (being a student/TA/RA/ Sessional there for 11 years), and lament their downgrading and closures.

My introduction, as an undergrad. was to secure a carell within the stacks of the Main Library, on the 5th floor, Gov. Pubs. area where nobody wanted to be… It had various attractions- quiet and removed from distraction, a view of East Mall and Brock /SUB, but most of all, Bev- the Gov. Pub. librarian, whose desk was close enough I could stare at her longingly. So, I correct myself, there was a distraction.

We became non- romantic friends. I helped her move, she talked about librarianship, we counselled each other on relationships, world events and all between. All because of the library. She allowed me to claim the carell- something not encouraged.

But also in the main library was the Riddington Room, a beautiful room for sitting around, reading newspapers, magazines and journals on hand. This was the latter 1960s.

As well, Special Collections with an amazing array of old books, maps, manuscripts, letters, documents. Another distraction.

Sedgewick library, just across the plaza with the hideous clock tower, was oriented to undergrads., but even as a Freshman, I felt no affinity. Eventually it was torn down, the Plane trees, encased a partially underground replacement was built. It morphed to the brutalist monstrosity you picture and describe long after my sojourns there.

The library I had most connection with was the Agriculture/Forestry library within the MacMillan Building. As a grad. student rep. to the two Faculties, I got on the Library Committee, and helped with collections scope, displays, services such as ’searches’- no Google in the 70s, just cumbersome arcane tools like Agricola, Medscape and other compiler programs which charged for each search. A query would be adjudicated, the costs assigned to our scholarships.

I was pleased that the offerings improved and circulation increased in my time there. A big help was a free photocopier, many technical journal subscriptions, helpful librarians. But also serving as the building social centre. I was truly distressed to see it had been closed down around 2015.

Now, living on Bowen Island, my go-to is the community library, built as a store in 1924 and moved a few feet, refurbished/repurposed sixty years later. Being on local Council, I was involved in establishing the community library, funding, and encourage its use. Please look it up on-line; it is a very successful element of our community, with an annex for meetings and quiet reading, an attached art gallery. Tonight is a B&W Australian movie….

https://bowenlibrary.ca

https://bowenlibrary.ca/library-information/old-general-store/

So- mixed and fond memories.

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