Paula McCooey, Ottawa Citizen
November 7, 2017
The next time you’re at the Ottawa Public Library, you will be able to check out one of Sarah McLachlan’s personal acoustic guitars, or one of 150 of other instruments available to borrow.
Canada’s music icon was at the library’s main branch on Tuesday afternoon to help launch the Sun Life Financial Musical Instrument Lending Library program.
The program is offered at both the main library branch on Metcalfe Street and the Nepean Centrepointe location. In addition to providing access to 150 instruments, including guitars, banjos and violins, the program also includes a series of teaching videos.
McLachlan said the program is important because it helps to remove the financial barrier to instruments.
“I think cost is a huge barrier and I think accessibility is a huge barrier,” said the Grammy and Juno award winner. “And the fact that, like books, people can come and learn any instrument they want — not rent but borrow from a public library for free — is amazing … and the great thing is these days, online, you can learn to play any instrument.”