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20 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday February 22, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Exert your freedom to read @ your library Oakville Public Library wants to help you celebrate your right to read during Freedom to Read Week, which takes place Feb. 24 to March 1. Freedom to Read Week is an annual event planned to encourage Canadians to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom. But what does this `intellectual freedom' mean to us? We often take our freedom to read for granted, but we are blessed to have the capacity to access many pieces of literature in both print and non-print forms. Our intellectual freedom is the means by which we develop and grow our minds and it is important that we uphold the free exchange of ideas between writers and readers. "For some, this may mean picking up a controversial book and beginning to read, for others it may just be exploring other ways to access material such as using the internet," says library staffer Nicole Paterson. "Each individual boundary is personal and unique but is equally important in discovering new paths to use and appreciate our own intellectual freedom." Freedom to Read Week is organized by the Book and Periodical Committee, and is widely supported by communities across Canada that want to create and develop a greater awareness of the issues that surround intellectual freedom. Oakville Public Library's vision of bringing people and ideas together facilitates and echoes the Freedom to Read Week as it serves all segments of the community. Oakville Public Library recognizes the diverse nature of the community and the varied backgrounds and needs of citizens, regardless of race, creed or political viewpoint. The library prides itself in its wide and diverse range of materials from Children's to Seniors' Collections. Oakville Public Library's goal is to achieve a balance within subject areas by having a variety of perspectives represented. Libraries have a basic responsibility for the development and maintenance of intellectual freedom as Manager of Adult Collections, Florence De Dominicis explains, "The OPL's Collection Development Policy ensures that the library's collection of print and non-print materials for library users of all ages reflects a diversity of topics, perspectives and artistic expression, that the library upholds its mandate of making a wide range of information and recreational material accessible to its community." Several local library branches have created displays for Freedom to Read Week that include books challenged in Canada or books that have been controversial throughout history. These displays will hopefully offer a starting point or serve as a simple reminder that you possess the freedom to expand your horizons. So make a stand for your freedom to read and visit your local library to see what we have to offer. -- Submitted by the Oakville Public Library Hand Crafted Furniture by Mennonites Celebrating 15 Years of Uncompromising Quality SPECIALS OF THE MONTH! Solid Maple Florentino Desk Regular $2499.00 Sale $ 1899 DO NOT PAY 'TIL SUMMER 2009!* COME IN FOR THE BEST DEALS EVER Solid Oak French Pantry Regular $1029.00 Solid Pine 2 Door Jam Cupboard Regular $689.00 Solid Oak 46" Hall Console Regular $519.00 Sale $ 799 Sale $ 499 Sale $ 389 sale on all La-Z-Boy® chairs and sofas! * INVENTORY BLOWOUT PRICED TO MOVE! up to Over $1,000,000 in inventory, ALL CAN BE ORDERED IN DIFFERENT WOODS & STAINS TO MATCH YOUR DECOR Oakville Hurry in NOW for drastic markdowns Solid Oak 3 Pc. Coffee Table Set Regular $1347.00 Solid Oak Bar Regular $1898.00 Sale $ 949 Cards Welcome Sale $ 1499 GUELPH w w w. p e n w o o d f u r n i t u r e . c o m Morriston Highway #6 Morriston, Ontario SAVE E W I D E ! 50% STOR * Chairs from $399 ~Sofas from $799* ~Leather Chairs from $799* 450 South Service Rd. W. Oakville, Ontario 905-842-3653 to Hamilton 519-837-3555 N W MORRISTON Trafalgar Rd. South Service Rd. Bronte Rd. Fourth Line Dorval Rd. HWY. #6 QEW Wyecroft Rd. to Toronto Comfort. It's What We Do. E Store Hours: Monday - Friday 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. *Offer does not apply to Hot Buys. Summer 2009 deferred payments start May 2009. Offers cannot be combined. OAC. Limited time offer. Prices include additional discounts. See store for details. #401 www.lazboytoronto.com S HOURS: Mon-Wed 10-6 · Thurs-Fri 10-8 · Saturday 10-6 · Sunday 11-5