Come down to your School Library this month to join us in celebrating Canadian Library Month. The theme for 2025 is “Libraries For Life.” We should all celebrate, enjoy, protect, support, and make use of libraries throughout our lives, from childhood to our golden years and every stage in between.
October is CLM and ISLM (International School Library Month): two good reasons among 18 billion other good reasons to visit your local library!
A new documentary explores how public school librarians are standing up for our rights in the fight against book bans and the rise of fascism.
Librarians emerge as first responders in the fight for democracy and our First Amendment Rights. As they well know, controlling the flow of ideas means control over communities.
“In Texas, the Krause List targets 850 books focused on race and LGBTQia+ stories – triggering sweeping book bans across the U.S. at an unprecedented rate. As tensions escalate, librarians connect the dots from heated school and library board meetings nationwide to lay bare the underpinnings of extremism fueling the censorship efforts. Despite facing harassment, threats, and laws aimed at criminalizing their work – the librarians’ rallying cry for freedom to read is a chilling cautionary tale. ” (thelibrariansfilm.com)
Find out more about the documentary film “The Librarians”
The fight against book bans by public school librarians shown in new documentary. Check out this story from PBS News.
October 5-11 is Banned Books Week
October is Canadian Library Month
October is International School Library Month
October 5-11 is the ALA’s “Banned Books Week.” Censorship and book banning is alive and well, and we need to fight it. In Canada, and other nations that claim to embrace democracy and freedom, fascism no longer just lurking in the shadows– it is here, out in the open, and seizing power where it can. Fascists seek to control information as a means of controlling the population, and the censorship of books and other reading materials is one prong in that attack.
In Canada we observe the similar “Freedom to Read Week” in the new year. However, we can also join with our American neighbours in recognizing Banned Books Week and the attacks on freedom and democracy that are posed by the massively sharp rise of book banning. The US has seen an especially concerted attack on books for teens about marginalized communities. We are not immune from such fascist tactics in Canada, as book challenges have risen in step with the rise of far right propaganda, and in most cases are centered on schools, classrooms and school libraries.
Find out more about Banned Books Week.
School Libraries are worth celebrating every single day of the year, but every October we dedicate the month for a chance to learn more about the joy and value of the School Library.
Sometimes known as the Learning Commons, the School Library is an integral component of public education and the welfare of children throughout the world. This October we invite you to visit us, in person, or online, to learn more.
October is AWESOME. International School Library Month. Canadian Library Month. BC School Library Day and the Drop Everything and Read Challenge on October 27. Canadian Library Workers Day on October 17. Canadian School Library Day.
And much, much more…
Celebrate the joy and the power of libraries. Visit us at your School Library to celebrate all month long!
The School Library, and Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School, are closed on Tuesday, September 30, in observance of Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. “The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.” (canada.ca). As always, we urge you to consider how “Truth & Reconciliation” can be pursued throughout the year beyond September 30.
Find out more:
September 30th is Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada. Our school will be closed that day as the nation takes time to face the truth of our history and considers a path forward of reconciliation. As a school community, we continue to learn more about Truth and Reconciliation. At Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary, we encourage all students and staff to wear an orange shirt in school on Friday, September 26, as well as on September 30th.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was established as the Canadian government’s formal recognition of the importance of Orange Shirt Day, observed on September 30 over most of the last decade, as part of the overall effort of raising awareness and provoking discussion about the impact of Residential Schools in Canada, and finding the path toward reconciliation.
From the Government of Canada:
“June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day. This is a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The Canadian Constitution recognizes these three groups as Aboriginal peoples, also known as Indigenous peoples.
Although these groups share many similarities, they each have their own distinct heritage, language, cultural practices and spiritual beliefs.
In cooperation with Indigenous organizations, the Government of Canada chose June 21, the summer solstice, for National Aboriginal Day, now known as National Indigenous Peoples Day. For generations, many Indigenous peoples and communities have celebrated their culture and heritage on or near this day due to the significance of the summer solstice as the longest day of the year.”
Find out more:
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Celebrate National Indigenous History Month in Canada by learning more about First Nations, Metis and Inuit people. Come down to your School Library to browse through our Indigenous Peoples Collection. This section of the School Library is devoted to titles from authentic indigenous writers.
All titles in the Indigenous Peoples Collection are designated with spine labels bearing the “IPC” prefix. Sublocations in the IPC include:
and more…
June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada.
June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada. Join with us to learn more about the cultures, traditions and stories of the First Nations, the Métis, and the Inuit.
Come down to your School Library during June to find out more.
This is YOUR School Library. We want all students and staff at Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School to feel welcome when they come to the School Library. During Pride Week, we want to emphasize that this is a safe space for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Libraries are for everyone.
Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School Library 