Un article du
Brome County News signé Alex Hackett, nous présente Normand D. Paquin, fondateur et animateur de la
BIBLIO-GARE, de la Bibliothèque Missisquoi (Philipsburg) et de La Maison du Livre (Stanbridge-Station). Reproduit avec l'autorisation de Sharon McCully, Editor,
The Record
Paquin makes his mark with libraries
By Alex Hackett, Record Correspondent
Normand Paquin is a humble man who has nonetheless managed to have a significant impact on his community. In 1996, he founded the first of three community libraries: The Missisquoi Library Welcome Centre in Philipsburg. Response was good enough to merit the opening of two more libraries: La Maison du Livre in Stanbridge-Station, and La Biblio-Gare in Saint-Armand.
"These are all very low-key programs," said the soft-spoken Paquin. "We have minimal financial support from the town. Most of our funds come from donations from the community." The libraries are described as non-municipal, community establishments. They not only hold books - nearly 10,000 at last count - but serve as regular meeting places. They offer suppers and tea-meetings, as well as classic films every two weeks.
Paquin saw a kind of intermediary zone between the larger municipalities and the great number of tiny hamlets that dot the townships. Since these smaller villages aren't big enough to house their own libraries, Paquin hit on the idea of creating a library that would serve as a regional centre, and serve many of them at the same time. The result is that these community centres stitch together the disparate settlements that often have no reason to come into contact with one another. The project points to a peculiarly Canadian problem - an abundance of space that often works against attempts at socializing. This is exactly the problem that Paquin hoped to overcome.
"From 1985 to 1996, there were small cultural programs, but in 1996 we joined them together under the umbrella of the present program", he said. "It's quite a pleasant program because they're now centres where people come together. This is important because people live in isolation, especially a lot of older people. These outlets provide them with a chance to get together." A unique aspect of the libraries is that they are completely free. There are no fees whatsoever. Even visitors can take out books. Paquin mentions that many low-income families take advantage of the centres. Despite the interest, the program has had some hitches, and Paquin describes the libraries as "fragile".
He works full time planning and organizing, and receives the help of about a dozen volunteers, whom he describes as indispensable. The Missisquoi Welcome Centre, for example, had to be moved because the building where it was located was sold. It now makes use of the Anglican church in Philipsburg.
Paquin, 62, has been engaging in community projects since he was 14. Originally from Montreal, he has lived in Philipsburg since 1985. Asked if he is the main factor behind the program, he refuses to take full credit.
"It's there because of a circumstantial series of events - the demand and the people," he concluded. "The bottom line is that if we didn't do it there would be no library. This is a very interesting area, but there is a scarcity of resources. So we don't wait for government subsidies, we go for it ourselves."
