Editor: After 17 years as director of the Langley City Library, Pat Dawson is retiring from paid active service.
As a person with a disability (PWD) I have seen the amazing job she has done there for the people of this community.
She has created an outstanding atmosphere for all people to enjoy the fundamentals of the written word regardless of culture, class, colour, creed or carat weight.
She has assembled a great staff of knowledgeable friendly people who do their jobs very well.
I am there daily to work on the internet and my writing, and this has enriched my life immensely.
She has been instrumental in implementing so many programs in a wonderful, clean, safe, creative environment here — from ESL training for immigrants, and a place for other PWDs to enjoy, to the spinning and writers clubs — and the entire place runs like a Swiss watch.
The computers and printer are almost always in perfect working order, and I have yet to see even one book out of place.
Even though funding has often been a challenge, they have done a great job making resources available to all.
Although she has usually been the invisible face behind the scenes, her work has always been obvious to us all, and I for one can only hope that her replacement will be able to live up to those standards.
As a person with such otherwise limited resources, I can’t adequately express how nice it is to come here to enjoy the ambiance and ingest the wide variety of brain food available here.
With so much other artificial virtual junk contaminating our minds every day, it is great to be able to stop in and take home something actual, like a hard copy in the form of a DVD, because we can’t afford cable, or an actual book that you don’t need to click a rodent to read. It’s something more people should try. I’ve never heard the phrase “curl up with a good screen.”
If I am ever rich, I know where I will leave some money to.
Libraries are the bank where the favourite currency is knowledge. Because a mind really is a terrible thing to waste.
Thank you Pat.
Danny A. “Hurricane”Halmo,
Langley City
