Scotiabank shows support for literacy

Times Reporter

 

Once again Scotiabank has shown their support for both literacy and the Marigold Library system. On Feb. 8 Brenda Cermak, with Strathmore Scotiabank, presented Michelle Toombs, director of the Marigold Library System, with books from the Giller Prize short list. This was the second year Scotiabank has donated to Marigold.

“We’re very grateful that Scotiabank has taken such a leadership role in promoting literature and authors in Canada, because our authors are a treasure, they promote art and culture but they also describe the experience that human beings have in our world,” said Toombs.

“That’s where public libraries come in too, it’s all about the user experience, and now that the public is very interested in e-books and e-readers we see that there is a lot of change happening with the way people read, what they want to read, and what kind of format they use to read.”

Marigold provides the support to make sure their 35 member libraries are successful, while continuing to be a big part of community life. 

“In many cases libraries are the only place every person in a community can go to, without being prevented from going because of age, or financial circumstances or affiliation,” said Toombs. 

Scotiabank sponsors the Giller prize every year, which sees six authors picked and voted on. The winning author this year was Esi Edugyan with the book Half Blood Blues.

In 2005 Scotiabank and the Giller Prize joined teams to create the Scotiabank Giller Prize. The Giller Prize originally began in 1994, and recognizes excellence in Canadian fiction with a cash prize of $25,000, which is the largest for literature in the country.