In troubled times, we all need to support our neighbours and friends. And sometimes we need to ask for help. All over the world, people are discovering new ways to support one another and new ways to connect. We’ve got one of those new connections to share with you.
The Vancouver Maritime Museum is facing some challenges. Because we’ve been closed for several weeks, we’ve had to adjust our budget. This means we must hold off on adding books to the W.B & M.H. Chung Library for the time being.
We have an excellent collection already, but there are many wonderful books we have not yet acquired that our library patrons and staff could use. We have an extensive wish list of books we’d like to order. These include books relating to our maritime heritage, books about museum and collections management, and even a few children’s books.
It’s a shame to be unable to buy books at this time. Bookstores are struggling too, and they could use a lift. But we’ve worked out a creative solution. We contacted Vancouver independent bookstore, Massy Books, to forge a partnership that will allow VMM patrons to buy books for the W.B & M.H. Chung Library.
Massy Books has built a wish-list page for VMM on its website. Museum supporters can browse the wish list and buy directly from Massy books. Buyers just add “VMM” to the instructions on the order and Massy Books will make sure VMM gets the book.
Massy Books is a special place. The store, located in Chinatown, is 100% Indigenous owned and operated and a member of the Stó:lō Business Association. The store hosts a quarterly event called Indigenous Brilliance, a reading series that showcases First Nations, Métis, and Inuit writers.
We’re excited about this new partnership and we hope you will be too. It’s an opportunity for you to make a big impact with one transaction. Buy a book for the museum from Massy Books and you’re supporting both the museum and a local business. You can shop from home, support an indie bookstore and support VMM, all with a few clicks.
We are so grateful that Massy Books has donated considerable time in setting up the web page, and we are grateful to everyone who will participate in this exciting initiative.