IRU 90th Birthday Celebration

On October 23, 2006 Manitoba School Library Day, the Honourable Peter Bjornson, Minister of Education, Citizenship & Youth, addressed teachers and staff at the 90th birthday celebration of the Instructional Resources Unit (Library).

The Library opened its doors in 1916. First located in the Legislative Building, the Library’s mandate was to administer the new school grant of $10 per school.  An annual selection list was created and sent out to Grades 1 – 8 schools. School staff would identify the requested titles; the Library would purchase the material; and then send the books to the school libraries throughout the Province.

The Grade One series, Nelson’s Picture Readers with titles, “A Box of Toys,” “Neddy Bray’s Story,” “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and “Our Railway Ride,” each cost three cents on the first selection list.

The Library retained copies of all selections list titles created between 1916 and 1968 for teacher evaluation. These titles formed the beginning of the Library’s open shelf collection that teachers access today.

The Library moved to its current location in 1977.

Today, the Library provides a wide range of resources, including books, periodicals, videos and DVDs, as well as access to electronic resources such as e-encyclopaedias and research databases. The Library provides extensive reference and information assistance to over 10,000 active patrons, including teachers, school division staff, teachers-in-training, and Departmental staff.

Circulating over 125,000 items a year and providing access to a wealth of electronic resources, the Library is an important component in addressing equity in the teaching/learning process.