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Given the calibre of the short-listed books, the two volunteer committees charged with selecting the titles for the 2012 Woodstock Reads spent weeks deciding the two "victors." On Friday, Mayor Pat Sobeski had the honour of revealing the results of these debates, pulling the curtain from a month or so of secrecy during an afternoon ceremony at the Woodstock Public Library.

Councillor Mike Del Grande, the city's budget chief, questions whether the library should be in the business of movies and non-English materials.

Being a focal point for the community is precisely the right role, said Councillor Sarah Doucette, a library board member. She shook her head when Del Grande’s recorded comments were played back to her. “I guess it depends what you think a library is,” she said. “A library is no longer a room full of books. It’s the computers where people can come to get jobs, improve their education. Some of the videos are how-to videos. We’ve got the newspapers, we’ve got magazines. We’re working to get more e-books.”

Instantly I could see it. The library purchases some old Nintendo NES consoles (gigantic game cartridges and all), some Atari, and maybe a ColecoVision if they’re feeling cheeky. You get a bunch of old classic games and then have the teens play them. I guarantee they’d be fascinated. Heck, at this point in time they’d probably figure it was a history lesson . . . and they’d be right.

 “The project is about connecting libraries and artists of all kinds: visual artists, performing artists, writers—anybody who uses the libraries in their community,” says Batykefer. “It’s not only to make known that artists and art organizations can use libraries as resources, but highlight the ways which libraries contribute to communities all the time. “ The LIP’s site, which officially launched last month, features the work of artists who have relied on the support of libraries during their careers, as well as libraries that have supported the arts through unique collections or initiatives.