With the snip of six pairs of scissors The Salvation Army William and Catherine Booth John Fairbank Memorial library was officially opened in Winnipeg on April 28 before a crowd of 200.

The 10,000 square foot facility on the third floor of a century-old building is named after John Fairbank, who died from diabetes in 1997 at the age of 29. Gordon and Jean Fairbank, the parents of John, who was also profoundly deaf, were at the dedication. Both are Salvationists from Kingston, Ontario and they financially supported the creation of the new library. "The greatest gift to someone who is deaf is the ability to read," said Gordon, who is a Booth College board of trustee member. During his short and moving address he noted that the family support of the library is so that others are encouraged to read and learn.

The new facility replaces an older library in the Booth College building, located a block away. It is a bright and spacious facility boasting 45,000 volumes, 150 current periodicals, six public computer terminals, wireless internet access, two meeting rooms, a cafe and a staff of four. The John Fairbank Memorial library is located in the same building as the new College for Officer Training (CFOT), the Salvation Army's national school for clergy instruction and ordination. An additional 10,000 titles will be added to the collection over the next few months as the holdings of both former CFOT's are put on the shelves in Winnipeg.

Librarian Meagan Morash compared the new facility to finding a new $100 bill: "There is so much you can do with it and so much potential." The library is open to the public but students of Booth College and CFOT cadets will be among the most frequent users. "What goes on inside this library is important," says Morash. "But it's not nearly as important as what leaves this place."

by Bram Ryan

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