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Description: Description: cid:[log in to unmask] the
Winners of the Best Elevator Speech Contest 2012

 

The Best Elevator Speech Contest ran from January to March 31, with
contestants being challenged  to make a convincing statement on the enduring
relevance of libraries in the 21st century, in 200 words or less.
Congratulations to our three winners! APLA members can read the winning
entries below.

First prize goes to Cate Carlyle of Saint Mary's University; second prize to
Patricia Parsons of Central Division Libraries (Gander, NL); and third to
Anita Cannon of Mount Allison University. 

The awards will be presented at the annual conference in Wolfville.  

First Prize: $250

Second Prize: Free APLA membership for one year

Third Prize: APLA t-shirt 

 

Thanks to all those who participated!

***************************************

 

First Place Winner: Cate Carlyle, Librarian/Instructional Resources
Assistant, TESL Centre Library, Saint Mary's University

Libraries on the way out? In this economy libraries are the place to be!
Where else can you get music, movies, books, internet access, all legal and
all for free?!  Do you read e-books? We have classes on how to buy the best
e-reader, how to use it and how to get the latest titles all for free. Do
you have kids? Libraries have programs for babies, kids and teens, homework
help, game nights, craft classes, book clubs, all free! Any seniors in your
life? We can help them navigate the web, learn about new technologies, get
their taxes completed, even start tweeting -again, totally free. Do you know
anyone who has been laid off or is job hunting? Library staff can help them
with their resume, access the best job sites, and even help with interview
skills. Where else can you do everything I just described, legally, for
free, 7 days a week with knowledgeable help on hand?! I could go on and on
about libraries but instead why don't I just give you my card and you can
come visit and see for yourself. Oh, my floor, see you soon!

 

Second Place Winner: Patricia Parsons, Manager, Central Division Libraries,
Gander, NL  

whaddya mean- on the way out ? where are you been livin" to ,  my son ? In a
cow's stomache ?  Don't you know that libraries just  happen to be on the
leading edge of all things technological ? yes,  I admit,  we do still carry
the  good old fashioned book, but we also  have dvd's,  cd's, , mp3's,
e-books,  ILL's, e-resources , audiobooks, laptops, wireless, computer
training...  My son- if a library doesn't have it, you don't need it. And
have I mentioned it's all free ?  absolutely  free for the asking. There's
no better deal in town than what you'll find at your local library.  Look,
my son, here's a library card- Now, I have to tell ya-  it  does come  with
a Surgeon General's warning . See - it says right here  -  " NEVER leave
home without it !    " ...  

 My son, if you're waiting for the library to become road-kill  on the
information highway, you better not be holdin' your breath!  :-)

 

Third Place Winner: Anita Cannon, Research Librarian, R.P. Bell Library,
Mount Allison University

Oh no!  Without libraries, without librarians, the world would be a darker,
harsher, meaner place, for many people, including children, students, and
seniors.  Not everyone can afford to pay for books, an e-book reader, and
access to all the information or research materials they need.

 

If we want to have a democratic society, it is now more important than ever
in this "information age", that all citizens have access to the information
they need to be informed, to learn, to compete, and to feed their
imaginations.  Libraries provide that.

 

For many, finding the right information on the Internet is not easy.  They
need help to learn how to distinguish the most reliable and appropriate
information from the inappropriate, commercial or biased sites.  Librarians
provide that.

 

Libraries are free for everyone and librarians help everyone who comes in
their doors or who approaches them electronically.  There is no other
institution like it and no other profession I'd rather be in.  We encourage
sharing, learning, literacy and an informed public.  We enhance every
community we are a part of.  I hope you will consider supporting your
community library, or better yet:  pay it a visit and see what you've been
missing!