Write to Read BC

Category: Update

For minor updates of interest mainly to Write to Read BC teams, communities, and partners.

  • Round reading room, square learning centre

    A few years ago, Aboriginal Housing Society of Prince George approached Write to Read BC about installing an on-site library. A successful site visit was arranged this year. After inspecting the space with Housing Society leaders, one Write to Read BC volunteer described it in one word: “Wow!” The space is perfect for an Aboriginal-led library.

    The building has a round reading room, “shaped like a tipi.” It’s lighting mimics the northern lights. The reading room’s location is excellent for the community. It is physically connected to a daycare centre and surrounded by Indigenous housing.

    The Housing Society also hopes to install a learning space in a second room. The visiting volunteer described this room as “a square box at the moment.” However, the space will make a good learning centre once it is appropriately furnished. Write to Read BC’s volunteer teams are experienced at partnering with communities to transform spaces such as this.

    Aboriginal Housing Society of Prince George’s library plans were inspired by another Write to Read BC library collaboration, in Hazelton. For the potentially similar Prince George project, various people contributed their thoughts. Ideas ranged from floating shelves that can spotlight selected books to possible library programming by Prince George Literacy Association.

    In a post-visit discussion this month, Write to Read BC volunteers showed their readiness to engage. One experienced volunteer identified potentially costly logistics. Another intends to ask a Rotary Club to contribute funding. About $30,000 may be needed, depending on Aboriginal Housing Society of Prince George‘s vision for its library and learning centre.

  • Tl’esqox Library: ”Refresh” book list is half way

    In the Caribou-Chilcotin region, the Tl’esqox Library refresh is underway. This involves culling books from its shelves, and compiling a list of replacements. Already, the community selected about half the books for this list.

    Due to many recent births in the area, the library wants to include children’s books and materials on its list. This will support the community’s new Head Start program for children from infancy through 4 years of age.

    The community invited members of Write to Read BC’s library response team to visit Chilcotin (also called Riske Creek) to help with the Tl’esqox Library refresh. The goal is to complete the work by September.

    Part of the work is supported by a grant from the Four Pillars Society. This is a not-for-profit organization created to invest and distribute a $2.8-billion settlement fund from a class-action lawsuit.

    Photo of several one-story buildings, connected by a walkway and permanent awning. Several people are talking or walking in front of the small complex.
    Photo: The previously completed library, attached to a multi-generational centre. This centre included early learning, youth, and Elders programs, and a recording studio for language and culture revitalization. Now, the library is getting a refresh.

  • SFU CERi publishes report on Write to Read BC success

    Write to Read BC welcomes the formal publication of a study it co-sponsored with CERi at Simon Fraser University. CERi, or Community Engaged Research initiative, funded an assessment of 15 years of Write to Read BC’s collaborative library projects.

    The qualitative study collected data from 19 Indigenous BC communities about their Write to Read BC libraries model. The study’s authors, Jody Bauche and Tara Mahoney, report that these projects evolved far beyond designing and placing Indigenous-led libraries.

    Communities value the flexibility of the Write to Read BC model, which allowed them to design their own public space. As a result, these libraries can now offer an astonishing range of services beyond reading and education. These libraries are multi-purpose community hubs. They support cultural programming, early years education, food distribution, meetings, and social connection in isolated Indigenous communities across BC.

    The findings in this report highlight several key areas of impact:

    • Strengthening community connection and belonging.
    • Providing trusted spaces where people gather across generations.
    • Supporting literacy and lifelong learning, including early literacy development.
    • Inspiring the emergence of new programs.

    About the report

    Cover of 2026 report of the impacts of Write to Read BC's collaborative library model.
    Retrospective: The impact of collaborative libraries.

  • Human Rights book club inspires list of favourites

    The BC Human Rights Commissioner started a book club focused on human rights, and asked us to share this with our network.

    This inspired Write to Read BC volunteer Gordon Yusko to ask Indigenous publishers for their favourite books about human rights. Alison at GoodMinds.com—a Write to Read BC sponsor—suggested the following, for different types of readers.

    We’re passing along this list of favourites to all BC libraries.

    Goodminds.com is a book supplier with a passion for First Nations, Metis, and Inuit authorship and education. Through its SILT Foundation, it also funds and supplies books to libraries.

  • Four library projects for 2026-2027

    Write to Read BC volunteers are currently collaborating with four Indigenous organisations or nations:

    • Daylu Dena in northern BC.
    • Aboriginal Housing Society in Prince George.
    • Tl’esqox (Toosey) library in Caribou-Chilcotin.
    • Nzen’man’ (Zenmin) Centre in Lytton.

    Together with community members, a variety of Write to Read BC volunteers will:

    • specify what library shelving to build for upcoming library projects.
    • coordinate book donations with supplier GoodMinds.com.
    • ship books to a volunteer in Whitehorse, relatively close to Daylu Dena library in northern BC.
    • complete the Daylu Dena library installation.
    • meet with Aboriginal Housing Society in Prince George to determine the library needs of multiple generations.
    • assess the available space and work on a design with Aboriginal Housing Society and stakeholders.
    • assess the space and shelves in the Tl’esqox library.
    • edit the Tl’esqox collection: cull books and develop a replacement book list.
    • firm up the 2027 Nzen’man’ project in Lytton.
    • check the type of fire-suppression—either water or foam—in the Nzen’man’ Centre, to frame the project scope.

  • Conference attendees respond to Write to Read BC projects

    During a presentation about Indigenous BC libraries, attendees at 2026 BC Library Conference expressed interest and engaged with the panel of presenters. The conference is an annual event sponsored by BC Library Association.

    Panel shared a recently completed impact study of Write to Read BC’s collaborative projects with isolated Indigenous communities. After the presentation, the audience shared their own experiences as librarians. They also asked questions about process, to learn how to better serve indigenous readers in public libraries.

    Indigenous groups in public libraries

    One librarian noted that, in the past decade, public libraries in Canada have taken “hugely positive steps” by adding Indigenous books and content to their collections. The librarian said, “There’s a lot more programming focused on Indigenous history in Canada, including the horrible impact of Indian Residential Schools.”

    Others noted public libraries have actively recruited local Indigenous residents to be on their library boards.

    Another librarian said: “In our library we reach out to two local First Nation communities,” but added that this work has no government funding. “The province doesn’t really provide enough funding to cover the costs,” said the librarian.

    Members of the audience were not asked to identify themselves, so their comments aren’t attributed.

    Processing books

    One librarian asked about how Write to Read BC’s volunteers process books for Indigenous libraries.

    Indigenous libraries installed with Write to Read BC have new books from Indigenous publishing houses in their collection. They may also have a selection of other books. The Write To Read volunteers classify all these books using the Dewey Decimal system.

    A panel presenter noted that Indigenous youth in particular want to learn it. Knowing Dewey Decimal allows them to go into a public library knowing where to find the books they’re interested in.

    After the conference presentation, several librarians asked about volunteering with Write to Read BC to process books.

    Self-directed, Indigenous-led libraries

    Rather than support public libraries in making space for Indigenous readers, Write to Read BC takes a different approach. Its volunteers partner with isolated Indigenous communities to design and and install the library they themselves want.

    The focus has been on isolated communities that have no other library nearby. However, Write to Read BC has also partnered with Indigenous-led organizations and schools that want a library.

  • Promoting Write to Read BC with BCLA librarians

    Today, Write to Read BC announced the launch of this updated website to members of BC Library Association, or BCLA. That’s because BCLA members are well placed to promote the Write to Read BC project. The announcement also mentions an upcoming impact study about communities that have an indigenous-led library.

    BC Library Association logo.

    The role of librarians

    Librarians focus on advocacy, professional development, and support of intellectual freedom. BCLA members work to ensure everyone has equitable access to information, ideas, and works of the imagination. In contrast, Write to Read BC does the same by following the lead of First Nations communities.

    The announcement to BCLA

    This is what today’s announcement covered:

    On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation it’s fitting to announce two things about the long-lasting Write to Read BC project.

    1. There is a new website, writetoreadbc.org.
    2. An impact study is in its final stages, with a report scheduled to be released in November.

    As many of you know, former lieutenant-governor of BC Steven Point envisioned and initiated this project during his time in that role between 2007 and 2012. A key partner in making the project a reality was his aide-de-camp at the time, Bob Blacker, an active member of a Rotary Club. CBC carried a story about this joint effort in May of 2014, as did various newspapers.

    Fast forward and along the way to 2025, Write to Read BC has collaborated with numerous Indigenous communities, under their leadership, to plan and install highly local libraries and learning centres. The new website documents these multiple efforts going back to 2011.

    Funding and support for the new website and the impact report was generously provided by SFU’s Main Street Research Shop. It collaborates with community partners, students, and faculty members to address community questions and concerns through research. The SFU Indigenous Student Centre has been equally generous in contributing in-kind support for a portion of the work schedule to co-supervise both the research and the web development.

  • Daylu Dena library books coming soon

    The co-leads of Write to Read BC plan to travel to Daylu Dena’s new library in early November 2025. They will deliver books and computers.

    The books will provide the indigenous focus that the community envisioned for its library.

    The computers and high-speed Internet connection will allow the library to offer remote access to online courses and conferences. Librarians typically refer to this as a learning centre.

  • Lheidli T’enneh Fort George library

    Leaders of Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, educators, and Write to Read BC volunteers have discussed the community’s vision for an indigenous-led library. A library offers support for programs that interest the community.

    Also, the library’s collection will represent Indigenous communities.

  • Gitanmaax library gets shelving

    Near the village of Hazelton, Write to Read BC volunteers recently delivered custom shelving required for the community’s school library. The shelves will also display important cultural objects, in both enclosed and open displays.

    New shelving and open displays of culturally important objects.
    New shelving, to be filled with books by the library response team. On the left is an open display case that shows framed historical photos and wooden models of traditional Indigenous housing.

    The school’s plan is nearing completion. The shelves were built for the library by Nanaimo Correctional Centre.

    This is the 23rd library the Write to Read BC project will install in isolated communities across BC, in partnership with the community.