Canadian libraries sparked an inventor's home run.

Record-breaking baseball bats started in a library

Sam Holman had a challenge: to make a stronger baseball bat.

The Ottawa-based carpenter researched 225 related patents at multiple libraries in Ottawa, and realized that maple bats would be stronger and more durable than traditional ash.

Holman's first baseball bat was carved out of a maple banister from the stairway in his house.

Today, the Original Maple Bay Company makes more than 30,000 Sam Bats a year, and more than 200 major leaguers swear by them, including former Montreal Expo Larry Walker and Milwaukee Brewer Corey Koskie.

Canadian libraries sparked an inventor's success

The economic investment you make in your library contributes to Canada's overall growth. Libraries bring in additional tax dollars, raise property values and create new jobs.

Who knows what Sam Bats success story is at your library right now?

"Libraries contribute some $4 billion annually to the Canadian economy."

—Sept. 11, 2000 Canadian Library Association Brief

Great things happen at Canadian libraries. People find jobs, start new businesses and learn new skills—at libraries in every province.

Libraries create opportunities

Sam Holman of the Original Maple Bat Company and Sam Bats' fame is just one example of how libraries in Ottawa helped a Canadian business get started. There are countless stories of librarians who have helped people succeed, and of libraries that provided critical, in-depth information in a timely manner.

Little known fact about libraries

Almost ten times more people visit Canadian public libraries each year than attended Canadian NHL hockey games in the three most recent years combined. Learn more surprising facts about How Canadian libraries stack up in an OCLC member report.

Join the dialogue

Case Studies

What you can do right now

  1. Talk with your local librarians. Visit a library or a library's Web site. E-mail the Director. You may not have realised everything your library offers to your local small businesses.
  2. Brainstorm new forums for entrepreneurs. Think about allocating money to your library to support new business start-ups, First year university students, new employees—even new parents! Perhaps there could be a specific space dedicated for neighborhood, civic and community discussions.
  3. Protect your investment. Earmark budget items specific to your library's technology platform or Web site for the upcoming fiscal year.
  4. Educate your staff. Make sure they can clearly articulate the economic value of libraries to your constituents. Promoting local libraries is always favorable with a voter's interests.