There’s a woman who sits with a boy each Wednesday night.

He reads a book to her. She listens. She helps him when he stumbles. I hear every word because space here is tight. This is the Thornhill Public Library. Only Bowness is tinier.

There is one small table and about eight small chairs in the reading area.

It’s busy. Adult students of varied nationalities read their Bow Valley College materials. A man in a wheelchair navigates the tight space.

I’m from out-of-community, waiting for my son who is at the city pool next door.

I feel guilty. I’m taking a chair. Yet, across town, the Signal Hill Library received a $5.4-million renovation this year. Another new library opens in Saddletowne, in the far northeast, this fall.

The pressure on an outward growing city also puts pressure on our library system.

Library director Gerry Meek says there’s demand for libraries in all areas of the city. “All our libraries are busy,” he says, and he is concerned the southeast is poorly served.

I don’t have answers; other than what I see at Thornhill needs remedy. Meeks points out Thornhill is in a city building with other services: A city-run daycare, neighbourhood and community services, a parolee office. There’s no room for expansion.

The city gives about $38 per citizen to the CPL each year. The balance comes from overdue fines and program fees, some provincial grants. This week, city council is considering the cost of building on the fringes of the city. Because people want services, like the library that will be in the new Genesis centre in the northeast. 

There’s no social planning: Poorer neighbourhoods don’t get library priority. Consider Thornhill (family income $58,000; 20 per cent low income) versus Signal Hill ($95,000 family income; 35 per cent university grads). To be fair, Forest Lawn received a renovation, as did inner city Louise Riley.

Libraries are our cultural centre – accessible to all. If it comes to this (Calatrava Bridge?) or that, the libraries are the “that.”  

Federal money? Here at Thornhill in the federal riding of Centre-North, most arenas got the renos. More federal money went to four shiny arenas at COP (and I like hockey arenas!). Our mayor says he is disappointed that federal strategy bypasses city needs. Me, too.

On a sleet-driven Wednesday night, the library shows so much heart and hustle – to use a hockey term. 

Let’s get another book, the volunteer says to the boy. And they do, and leave.