| Moncton Public Library | |
|---|---|
| Type | Public Library in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Established | 1913 |
| Collection | |
| Items collected | Books, journals, newspapers, sound recordings, databases, maps, drawings |
| Size | 1.8 million items |
| Website | Moncton Public Library |
The Moncton Public Library (MPL) in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, aims to meet the educational, cultural, informational and recreational needs of its users. The Moncton Public Library provides access to a province-wide collection of more than 1.8 million items, 116,000 of which are on its shelves.[1] The library is a primary source of support for literacy and lifelong learning for residents of the greater Moncton area.[2] There is only one main branch in the city located on Main Street in downtown Moncton.[3]
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The Moncton Public Library was founded in 1913.[4] It is currently located in the Blue Cross building where it has been since 1989. The library's previous location on Highfield Street was renovated to accommodate office space in 1991.[5]
In 1998 the City of Moncton's name bank committee suggested that the Moncton Public Library change its name to the Northrup Frye Library to honour the acclaimed literary critic Northrup Frye who lived in Moncton during his early years. However the library board of the time disagreed on the grounds that though Frye has a great international reputation and is a renowned and celebrated philosopher and critic he "has done nothing for the Moncton Public Library itself".[6] The board was also concerned that if the library were to become The Northrup Frye Library, citizens might get the impression that the public library was instead an archive dedicated to Frye and his works. A meeting room inside the library, the Northrup Frye room, and a permanent display of books is how the library honours this famous Monctonian. A display also features a clock and a typewriter that belonged to the Frye family while he was living in Moncton.
The Magnum Opus Gala and Art Auction was the Moncton Public Library's main fundraising event from 2007 to 2010. Taking place in October the art auction was an opportunity to raise funds for improvement of library collections, but also offered "artists across Atlantic Canada the opportunity to get exposure for their work and the chance to sell a piece of their art."[7]