A case of nerves at Library and Archives Canada?

Kirsten Smith

1 Mar 2011 

Remember Iranium? That’s the film about Iran’s nuclear program that was to be shown at the Library and Archives building in Ottawa back in January. But Library and Archives cancelled the screening at the last moment out of concern for public safety and the millions of items in its collections after suspicious letters were found at the building and threatening phone calls were received. The cancellation outraged Heritage Minister James Moore, who ordered the Library to reschedule the screening, lest a government institution appear to be bowing to Iran’s demands. Iran is not a fan of the documentary and had objected to the screening.

Iranium did play at the Library and Archives – on Super Bowl Sunday, no less – to a sellout crowd of 370, including Minister Moore. But apparently that isn’t the end of it. Last week, LAC quietly posted a notice that their auditorium and meeting rooms at 395 Wellington St. are fully booked for the rest of 2011 and unavailable for 2012 while its “public spaces” policy is reviewed. Guess some events are just too hot for them.

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Librarian won't be cleaning up

By Maddie Hanna

March 13, 2011

Chichester residents didn't make any cuts to their $1.67 million budget during yesterday's town meeting, reserving debate for a more philosophical argument over the role of volunteers in town operations and whether they deserved compensation for their work.

Spurring discussion was the $1,000 stipend the town had been giving each year to the chairman of the planning board, whose pay was axed in the budget passed yesterday. Voters also scrutinized the $2,000 the library requested to hire a janitor, with some arguing that the librarian, aided by volunteers, should clean the building herself.

"The library trustees are saying, the library has a ton of volunteers, they make money downstairs. . . . I think we've got to cut this $2,000," said resident Brandon Giuda, who is also a state representative. After one of the library trustees, Carolee Davison, said that the librarian didn't have extra time to clean, resident Kathy Holmes responded by saying that "librarians have that job because they love books, work that's enjoyable, so I can't feel pity for them."