Library and special guests take a ride to launch the Books on the Bus program

By Tim Kalinowski on July 20, 2017.

tkalinowski@medicinehatnews.com @MHNTimKal

The Medicine Hat Public Library launched its “Books on the Bus” initiative Wednesday, fittingly, with a bus ride.

Special guests, including Mayor Ted Clugston, Coun. Jamie McIntosh, MLA Drew Barnes, Medicine Hat Rotary Club past president Uwe Krickhahn, MHPL chief librarian Shelley Ross, superintendent of Medicine Hat transit services Karen Davis and the kids from the library’s summer reading camp, assembled at the library to board the city bus for a ride to the Gas City Campground, the Medicine Hat Regional Airport and the Saamis visitors’ centre before returning to the library for a special cake-cutting ceremony.

Along the way, library reps. dropped off free books at new free reading bins built in these tourist areas, and were serenaded with rousing rendition of “Wheels on the bus” by the summer camp students.

“Literacy is why we have books and public libraries,” said Shelley Ross, explaining why “Books on the Bus” was so important. “Literacy is the most important part of education and it is important your whole lifelong.

“Sometimes we get busy in our lives and we lose track of the importance of reading; so we just want to get books back in the hands of the people … Uwe Krickhahn really deserves a lot of credit for making this happen. He chipped in personally for all the bins, and all of the material we are putting on the bus to give away is coming in from books donated to the library.”

Krickhahn said he wanted to add to overall literacy to create a better future for the community.

“I think education is important to help our city get away from gas and oil and find secondary industries. Education and literacy will be part of that. I think any reading people can do is good reading.”

Mayor Ted Clugston hoped the initiative would add to the city’s literacy and its tourist-friendly reputation.

“I really like how these books will be distributed throughout different areas where visitors and tourists come, the campground, the visitors’ centre and the airport … And there is going to be some books on the buses as well. Some of the rides are fairly long, and maybe this is a chance to get in some good reading.”

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