Speech: Inventing Tomorrow's Library with Roch Carrier

"Words aren't the true reality. Thinking about a trout isn't the same as holding it, slippery and trembling, in your hand; but words make a kind of magic that revives dead things and brings to life other things not yet alive. Words bestow life." -- Roch Carrier, No Country without Grandfathers

Although Quebecker Roch Carrier was raised just a handful of miles from Maine, his life experience has been worlds apart from what it might have been had fate set his course on our side of the border. His childhood in the village of Sainte Justine, Quebec, where he spent his youth idolizing the larger than life hockey player, Maurice "the Rocket" Richard, served as inspiration for what has become Canada's most treasured picture book, the Hockey Sweater. As a young man he traveled around Europe on a scooter carrying not only a typewriter, but also the ideas which yielded La Guerre, Yes Sir!, the novel which launched his successful literary career. These days he splits his time between his home in Montreal and Ottawa where, among other things, he serves as National Librarian of Canada, tirelessly advocating for the preservation of Canada's material history. On May 3rd, 6:30pm, the Maine Libraries Conference will proudly welcome him to Augusta, where he will speak on the topic, Inventing Tomorrow's Library. The general public is invited to attend this exciting banquet, which will also feature live traditional music. Copies of Roch Carrier's books will be available for signing as well. Attendees must register in advance using the form accessible from www.mainelibraries.info, or by contacting Edna Comstock at the Maine State Library, (207)-287-5600. Admission is $11.

Photograph of Roch Carrier, aged tenFull resolution version Available at: http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/obj/a6/f1/xxRochCarrier-v5.jpg © Public DomainSource: Photo courtesy of Carrier familyReproduced from the National Library of Canada's website (www.nlc-bnc.ca). (Picture)

Roch Carrier OC, D ès L (Paris), FRSC, NDCFull resolution version available from http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/obj/t11/f1/nlc001147-v6.jpg © Paul Couvrette, Couvrette Studio, Ottawanlc-1147 Reproduced from the National Library of Canada's website (www.nlc-bnc.ca). Reproduction permission has been granted by Roch Carrier (Picture)roc

Directions to the Maine State Library: The Maine State Library is located in the Cultural Building in the State House Complex in Augusta. From the south via the Maine Turnpike, take the first Augusta exit; from the north via Interstate 95, take the second Augusta exit (NOT the Augusta-Belgrade exit at the Civic Center). Bear right onto Western Avenue. Go to the third traffic light (about .5 miles from entering Western Avenue) and, merging into the right lane, turn right (note the sign "State Offices West"). Follow this street which curves to the left and presents the Capitol dome in the distance. At the next traffic light (1.2 miles from entering Western Avenue), turn right then left into a large parking area (note sign "State Museum, Library, Archives"). The large flat-roofed structure diagonally to your right is the Maine State Cultural Building.

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