My books are very few, but then the world is before me - a library open to all - from which poverty of purse cannot exclude me - in which the meanest and most paltry volume is sure to furnish something to amuse, if not to instruct and improve.
-Joseph Howe

South Shore Public Libraries launched two special collections at a reception at the Bridgewater Library on October 21^st, 2008.

When the Democracy 250 initiative was announced, Library staff could think of no better way to expand on the  Small Communities - Big Ideas initiative than by making a strong collection of resources  on this topic available to all residents of the South Shore. The Democracy 250 organization agreed, and generously granted South Shore Public Libraries $10,000 to assist in this pursuit.

The Library is pleased to use the gift to update the public collection in the areas of political theory, democracy and current events. Public libraries continually work to support the idea of freedom of information, a cornerstone of democracy. Last year, the Small Communities - Big Ideas initiative was launched to try to put this idea into action. The initiative incorporates many facets -- all based on the principle that two important roles of the library are to provide people with the means for free intellectual development and to provide a place where community members can come together in this pursuit.

250 years ago, democracy was a big idea and libraries were privately owned. Since Nova Scotians elected its first representative government in 1758 - the first elected assembly  of its kind in Canada - a lot has changed. Today, libraries are public in the true sense  of the word and give everyone the right to read, discover, learn and share. Last April, our provincial representatives passed the Democracy 250 Act. Among other objectives, the Democracy 250 Act created an initiative that aims to celebrate Nova Scotia's history and educate Canadians about the value of democracy. In this collection, you'll find books here from the canon of political thought as well as some titles presenting new and radical ideas. See a sampling of titles>>

In addition, South Shore Public Libraries is pleased to launch the Reford McCandless Collection, donated by local resident Stephanie McCandless Reford. The Reford McCandless collection, largely based on international policy and Canada's role in international affairs, will form a part of the Small Communities - Big Ideas collection. The personal and professional book collections of Stephanie McCandless Reford and her late husband, Robert Reford, reflect their years of experience working in international affairs, including UNESCO initiatives and the Pugwash Peace Exchange Society. Over the coming months, access to the contents of several journals, newsletters and other writings will be made available on this website.

The Small Communities - Big Ideas initiative also offers participants an opportunity to discuss the small community relevance of some big ideas in a monthly discussion series. With this generous grant and donation, the Library will be able to further support the initiative through designated book collections.