Library

      Over the years libraries have had to not only expand their technology as well as purpose. There are so many places where people can access reading material such as the internet, audio books, etc. So why go to the library. There is so much more offered at the library today.
educational classes

• computer access
• children programs
• game lending
• music and video availability
• art exhibits

....and so much more.

     The Fredericton Library is a wonderful place. There are so many things to enjoy. At the moment, I don't need to use the library for books because I have shelves full of books that I need to read. However, when Al is looking for a specific genre of book he will go to the library to find it. Al is also attending a French conversation group and we have borrowed a game or two to try out.

     In the hallways of the library you can also find some interesting treasures. I found this interesting exhibit in one hallway.

     Here are some of the 46 miniature painting that were discover nestled in between pages of library books in 2006.

     But what is the story behind these paintings? This is part of the news article written by Lorie Gallagher in the Daily Gleaner (June 25, 2015 and July 13, 2015).

     "Hidden treasures, tiny pieces of art, mystery surrounding who created them & where they came from -- these could be details from the latest best seller. Instead they are part of the story behind the "Little Foundlings" and exhibit currently on display at the Fredericton Public Library, the place where this intriguing tale begins."

     "Back in 2006, they were doing a cleaning project upstairs in the adult fiction sections" says Jessica Larocque, adult services librarian. Staff members were cleaning the books and the shelves and one of the paintings fell out. As they cleaned further they ended up finding 46 of the small paintings. "who know, people could have burrowed books and taken them home", Julia Stewart, librarian director, says, "Sometimes you take a book home, see a bookmark, slip it in, put it in a drawer and you think nothing of it. So we have no idea how may there were".

     Library staff believe that there are at least 2 artists maybe more. "We were amazed by them and we really wanted to do something with them but we didn't know what", says Larocque. With recent renovations to the library there is now space to display them. With may theories as to how, whey or by whom these pieces were created they hoped by displaying them, they will find the artists and the reason behind them.

     After displaying the art and asking for help finding the artist(s).

    "The mystery was finally solved. Joyce Ripley is the creative woman behind all but five of the Little Foundlings. Joyce is a painter in watercolour, oil and acrylic, she owns Hermit Thrush Studio. It turns out that the roots of the Little Foundlings can be found in an art exchange that she was part of 'It's called Art Trading cards or ATC". You go to their website and people will exchange what they want. You hand your painted cards in, you get other cards back and then go on to another trade. The Little Foundlings were the leftovers of her work she explains once she stopped trading.

     "In 2006 she began placing her art cards in library books in the adult fiction section. She always put them on page 101 so she could retrieve them if she changed her mind She made it from A to C before running our of cards and moving on to a new project. She has no idea her work was bring discovered and at the heart of a mystery. In fact, as years passed, she'd forgotten all about it. Ripley admits she has no idea where she got the idea to put loft over cards in b
library books."

     Boy, what a story! Now the paintings have a permanent space in the halls of the Fredericton Library.

     This canoe hangs in the meeting place section of the library people can sit and chat.

     It is called the Chestnut Canoe Community Art Project. During Canada Day 2017 (July 1) a distinctive art piece was created on a Fredericton-made Chestnut Canoe. Fredericton brothers William and Harry Chestnut ran the Chestnut Canoe Company from 1907 until it closed in 1979. The canoe used for this project was built sometime after 1955. (Their factory was on York Street just south of where we live -- the building is still there).

     Local artist Lisa Robinson designed the concept and led adults and children alike in painting all colours of the rainbow to bring the design concept to life. 

     A sign near the project states, "Robinson's art concept celebrated the diversity of our city, province, and country. The design includes a fiddlehead, the Saint John River, the heritage of all First Nations cultures, several downtown landmarks, the Canada 150 logo, as well as symbols of New Brunswick including an ocean wave, the gold lion from the flag and purple violets."

     A nice touch for the library and the many people who use it.

     So you can see that libraries are full of things that enhance the welcoming atmosphere of the library. These things may attract those who may not otherwise go to a library and remember you can also burrow a book to read or study at home.