Coffee With ... Sylvia Collins

It might seem odd for a person ready for retirement to do so mid-week, as was the case for former Gambo librarian Sylvia Collins.

Ms. Collin, who lives in Hare Bay, picked the date of Jan. 27 strategically - it was Family Literacy Day, after all.

Through her 20-year stint as a librarian, with 15 of those spent at the Gambo Public Library, promoting literacy was a major part of Ms. Collins' work.

Literacy is an important part of any economy, including Newfoundland and Labrador's. A 2003 International Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey found over 50 per cent of people aged 16-65 in this province scored in the two lowest literacy proficiency levels. This showed no change over previous data from 1994.

Ms. Collins witnessed many changes in the way people used the library -most notably with the introduction of the Internet.

Instead of helping people conduct research with encyclopedias, Ms. Collins used the web to help library visitors locate the information they were looking for.

The future of books is another matter of interest, as the introduction of much buzzed about technological devices like Apple's iPad are looking to change the way people read stories.

Q: How did you decide to become a librarian?

A: Well, the job was advertised, as the librarian in Hare Bay was retiring at the time, and I saw the ad in The Beacon, so I applied for the job.

Q: What made you think you had the skills or mindset to be a librarian?

A: I am a person-orient person. I love people, and I love books. I was a teacher for two years, and then I substituted for a few years.

After that, I was an interviewer with Statistics Canada, so I knew how to maintain harmonious relationships with people. Plus, I have four children of my own, and I taught Sunday school and worked with youth at the church. I had experience working with people. Besides that, I worked in elections - both federal and provincial.

All my work involved people, and I like being around them. I do a lot of reading. I read for pleasure, but I also read to be informed. When my children were at home, I would help them with their schoolwork.

Working at a library was like second-nature to me. You had to help people find what they're looking for to do research, plus there's different genres of books, and after a little while, you get to know (the library's) readership and what they like. You keep your eyes open for books they'd enjoy, and put them aside.

That way, you can phone them and say, "I know I have a book you would like. Would you like to stop by and get it?"

Or, somebody could come in and express an interest in a certain type of book, and I could recommend authors. If they've read something of that author, then I could say, "This author writes like that author, you might like their books."

Q: What kinds of books do you most enjoy reading?

A: I like inspirational books, self-help books and how to become better at what you're doing. Books that build your esteem, knowledge, and your skills.

I like history too, and reading other cultures. Mostly non-fiction, though I do read some novels. I've read things I wasn't particularly interested in, just to know what other people are reading. That way, I can relate to them.

Q: That must have been a hard task sometimes?

A: Well, yeah. Like reading a western? I'm not particularly into that [laughs]. But, I read one.

Q: Any particular favourite book?

A: My favourite book of all would be the Bible, of course. I read it everyday, at least some portion of it.

Q: Did you see any changes over the years with how the library was used by the people who went there?

A: The biggest change is the computer. We're in the age of technology now. When I started, we didn't have computers in the library - the best thing I had was a typewriter, and there's just no comparison.

People would depend on the encyclopedias years ago, and I really liked helping kids do research for school assignments when they would come in. I'd help them find what they were looking for with encyclopedias.

Now, they can do all that research on the Internet, and I find the kids don't need much help. They're so good at it because they're learning it at school. The world is at their fingertips.

Q: I know there's a thought computers will eventually overtake books. There's even a device coming out next month called the iPad that's specifically designed for people to read books on. Do you think libraries will have to adjust, or even become obsolete?

A: I don't think there'll ever become obsolete, but they will have to adjust. Probably, the younger generation will enjoy computers more, but I really can't see people not wanting books.

There's something personal about a book. For instance, if you have a nice evening, and you want you to curl up by the fireplace, just enjoying a book, it's like having a friend with you. I don't think a computer has that same feeling as a book.

Q: Newfoundland and Labrador has been known as a province having an above-average proportion of the population with low literacy skills. Do you have any thoughts about why that is?

A: I think literacy must be promoted in the home. Even before your children are born, it's a good idea to sing and read while they're growing inside your womb.

As soon as the children are born, the parents, caregivers, or grandparents taking care of these children should read to them, even though they're babies. You may not give credit to babies for how bright they are, and how much they can comprehend and retain in their little minds.

Children should always be read to - even after they're old enough to read for themselves, because it promotes literacy. I grew up in a home with just myself and my younger brother, but my parents were avid readers. There were books and magazines around the house all the time. You model yourself after your parents, largely.

I can remember when I was a big girl, and could easily read, I would say to mom and dad, "Can you read this story to me, please?" Nothing sounds as sweet as your parent's voice. Many parents might not think that, but that's true.

It also gives you the feeling you're special when your mom, dad, or grandparent took the time to sit-down with just you and read. My parents never said, "Oh Sylvia, you can go read yourself." They, never, ever did that.

We'd sit and read to our children, and sometimes we'd read as a family, or sit and play an education game. You have to read if you're playing a game.

People should take their children to the library, and not just send them there. It's a nice family thing to do. You form a habit over time, and if children see mom and dad use the library, then it must be the place to go, and they'll want to get taken there. They'll get a love for learning.

Q: Do you think videogames and computers can have a role to play in that as well with children?

A: There's so much time for everything, and what you have to do is prioritize. Our children were allowed to watch some television or listen to some radio - there weren't videogames then.

If I had children now, I'd allow them to have so much time for videos, game machines, or computers. It would be monitored. They would definitely have to spend some time reading.

I found we didn't have to force our children to read - it just came to them because it was expected of them. We never had to say, "Go to church," or "Go to school," because if we went, they went, and they still do.

Q: How would you rate the level of support libraries receive in this province?

A: I think it's good. Our government is behind the library system. There was a time when money was tight, and we actually couldn't get many new books or magazines. That was hard.

Since the economy has improved, the government has been putting money back into the libraries. We certainly can't complain. Plus, teachers promote libraries, and some bring their classes to the public library for visits.

I have to say, I am very supportive of the local library board in Gambo. Those people were excellent. If I said I was going to raise some money, cause we always had it for prizes and treats when we had story time programs or invited classes in, they would help.

Q: How was your last day?

A: Oh, my last day was super. It really was.

One of the reasons I selected to go on the Wednesday is because Jan. 27 is Family Literacy Day, and you usually have an event planned to promote literacy.

The theme for this year was Sing for Literacy, so I invited Dan Norman, a retired school teacher in. He's from Gambo, and he came in with his keyboard, his amps, and his mic setup, and he entertained us. There were a couple of songs we knew, so we could sing along.

There were 44 people there, which was a good number for an afternoon, because you must consider there are people who use the library who couldn't come because of work.

My manager, Pat Parsons, she came out, along with Tina Murphy, the assistant manager, Natalie Power from the admin office, and the inter-library loan librarian, Susan Parsons. I really appreciated that, for all four of them to attend my function.

Pat read a book, and Tina read a few poems, and I read some riddles, because I like riddles, and I find people get a good laugh from them.

We had prizes for people who came, which were books, and we had one bag. We're trying to promote the use of cloth packs, because we want to have a green Earth.

Then we had a lunch. What refreshments! People from Gambo really know how to bake, they really do. I was rather overwhelmed with all the nice cards I received. Beautiful cards, and a lot of the people took the time to wire a personal note to me - and a lot of gifts. I didn't expect that.

They made me feel quite good. A lot of people gave me hugs and told me they were going to miss me.

In the morning, I had a story time with the pre-schoolers, and I knew this would be my final story time. You usually get 10-12 children attending, but for my final story time, 15 kids showed up, and 14 parents and sitters.

It was really nice. I always have a theme for story time, and since the theme was singing, I had toy instruments hidden for the hide and seek game. Toy guitars, tambourines, flutes, and things like that.

Whatever they found, they could take home. So they all started playing them, once they found them, and I can't say it was real music [laughs]. They had a lot of fun with it.

Q: Doesn't sound like it was a quiet library?

A: Well, Wednesday mornings we're closed to the public, so it's just story time. It doesn't matter how much noise they make. So that was my last day, and it made beautiful memories for me.

Q: Are you done with books now then?

A: Done with books? No. In fact, I'm going to write one. I've done a little bit of writing before, and this time I chose to write a novel. It's about life in rural Newfoundland in the early and mid-1900s. Life when I grew up is far different from what my grandchildren are experiencing - it's even different from what my children experienced.

I think this book will be very interesting to anybody who likes history. For older people, it will take them back to what they lived through. For the younger people, it will give them an appreciation for their ancestors. It wasn't all easy, but Newfoundlanders are very resourceful people.

Q: What advice would you have for whomever takes over your place at the library in Gambo?

A: Well, I think they should be dedicated to it. Read books that will help them do the job well, and always try to improve your skills. One of the main skills is communication - you need to listen to people when they talk to you, and understand where they're coming from.

You need an appreciation for what they like, so when they come in, you'll have something for them. You've got to learn how to use a computer. I don't mean troubleshooting, because we have IT staff for that. You can book your flight online, and some people won't know about that.

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