New Books
on
Delta's Heritage

"One factor becomes readily apparent in this history of libraries in Delta: it was extremely difficult to establish and retain a library in Delta. There were many short-lived attempts, more than I would have suspected possible. But the reasons for this struggle to survive are unknown.

A reluctance to commit tax dollars to a non-essential institution existed, but this can be only a partial explanation, since the levy per individual taxpayer was small. There may also have been a power struggle going on among various groups in the community to control the reading material made available to the public. In view of the I.O.D.E.'s involvement in the history of libraries in Ladner and that organization's intervention in the school system, such an explanation has some merit.

In addition, the long-lived Protestant work ethic may also have played a part. Hard-working farmers had little use for reading that went beyond keeping oneself informed about the realities of the world and one's livelihood; anything else was frivolous and a waste of time.

Perhaps the most credible explanation is connected with the struggle during the 1930s by the residents of the village to acquire political representation on the Municipal Council, which was dominated by farmers who were large landowners.

Whatever the reason, it may not be possible to discover here. But one thing is certain: given the lengthy history of unquenchable community efforts to establish a permanent library system to serve the inhabitants of Delta, it is truly amazing that the publisher of the local newspaper should suggest in 1993 that it was time to shut the doors of the local libraries and walk away. There are valuable lessons to be learned from history, if we are prepared to listen!! One of the most obvious is that libraries are an essential part of our communities, a feature that has become interwoven, in whatever respect, into the fabric of our lives."