Libraries in the 21st century have come a long way from simply being a shelter for books; in many of our cities and towns they've become a whole hub of community resources. One of those new resources has just popped up at Fredericton's Public Library and it’s part of a movement taking root elsewhere.
Fredericton’s library is one of a few Maritime libraries to have a seed library.
“This is the only place in New Brunswick with a seed library,” says library director Julia Stewart.
The collection of seeds for fruits, vegetables and herbs was established about a month ago, after a non-profit group came forward with the idea.
“They chose the library because it is open to all the public,” says librarian Jessica Larocque. “They supplied us with all the seeds, with a place to put them and the card catalogue to put them.”
Library users are invited to pick their favourite seeds and are given information to help them grow.
“You can take out six items per visit,” says Larocque.
Each variety of seed has been chosen with a rookie gardener in mind.
“So all of these are easy to grow and easy to get seeds from,” says Larocque.
The library is also encouraging people to return seeds from what they plant, to help keep this part of the library in bloom.
“It certainly speaks to the trend in libraries to be more community centres more so than just a place for books,” says Stewart.
The Fredericton Public Library recently underwent a $1.3 million renovation with the goal of branching out beyond books and a seed library is fitting nicely with that objective.
“In the bigger picture, I think if people still have that big concerns with where their food comes from and how to grow food and as we look at environmental impacts, I think it will continue to grow,” says Stewart.
Complementing the seed collection is a series of initiatives at the library, educating people about local food and food security.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Nick Moore
