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National Library News |
Randall Ware,
Research and Information Services
On Wednesday, November 17, the recipients of the 1999 Governor General’s Literary Awards read from their winning books at our eighth annual Gala Reading, the event that has become the highlight of our fall season. It was the laureates’ second appearance at the Library in two days.
For the first time, the National Library was the site of the news conference at which the winners were announced. The ceremony took place on the morning of Tuesday, November 16. Traditionally, it had been held at the Canada Council offices, but this year the Council decided to take advantage of the Library’s newly renovated auditorium. Members of the public were invited to the news conference, along with the media, and their ample numbers suggested that this was a popular idea. The writers later received their official welcome at Rideau Hall from Their Excellencies Adrienne Clarkson and John Ralston Saul. How much more literary could it be?
The Gala Reading, as always, brought the writers and their public together shortly after the awards. The characteristic warmth and good feeling surrounding the event was much in evidence this year. The booksellers reported record sales and the line-ups for autographs were long.
National Librarian Roch Carrier welcomed everyone and thanked the sponsors of the evening, CGI. Jean-Louis Roux, chairman of the Canada Council for the Arts, also spoke, and then the audience was treated to a diverse and entertaining evening of readings from the winners’ books.
The Governor General’s Literary Awards are Canada’s most important literary prizes. It is fitting that two national institutions, the National Library and the Canada Council for the Arts, work so closely together to bring the winners to the attention of all Canadians. To listen to excerpts from the award-winning books as read by their authors at the Gala Reading, visit the Library’s Web site at <http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/events/readings/govgen/1999/egovgen.htm>.