The Airdrie Public Library has unveiled a statue dedicated to a woman who grew up with a book in her hand and spent much of her adult life using words to communicate with others.

On Friday (October 20) a statue was unveiled in honour of Anne Beaty a former employee of the library.  Anne passed away suddenly just over a year ago.  Her oldest daughter, her granddaughter, her former brother-in-law and her mother Jeanne were on hand for the ceremony.

Jeanne, who is a very young 95 years old, says she fell in love immediately with the statue.  

"To tell you the truth, when I looked at that statue, it reminded me of Anne, not that they look alike but Anne read all the time.  I just fell in love with it so tht's why it's there."

Jeanne says Anne grew up in, what she calls, "a bookish family."  "I had a library, my husband had a library and the girls developed their own libraries."

She believes that of Anne's many jobs, the one at the library was one of her favourites.   "She lived in Airdrie for 20 years and was editor of the Aridrie Echo and an editor at Airdrie Life but when she took this job at the library it was almost like coming home.  She loved it.  She enjoyed the work and she felt at home among books."

Jeanne says she hopes that the statue will remind people that books are for everyone. 

"Books are for everyone and you can enjoy them.  I hope it brings a smile to their faces, I really do."

The statue is of a young girl, lying down with her feet in the air, reading a book.

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