Sarah McLachlan adds guitar to Vancouver instrument library

There are now even more instruments to check out at the Vancouver Public Library's musical instrument lending library.

Singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlancontributed a guitar to the collection on Monday, and Sun Life Financial, which donated the original 100 instruments last year, expanded the Vancouver program by another 50 instruments.

• Hedley, Mother Mother on hand to launch Vancouver Public Library's borrowable collection of instruments
• Instrument-lending library aims to widen access to learning music

"For many of us, music is what makes the difference for us in life," said VancouverMayor Gregor Robertson Monday at the program expansion announcementat the Vancouver Public Library.

"Music is what got me through my earlier years. Certainly high school, it was an essential part of making me who I am," said the mayor, adding that he was drawn to the tuba, an instrument he had to borrow from his school as a child.

McLachlan, who was forced to start her musical education with the ukulele, because she was too small for the guitar at four years old, said it was only a stroke of luck that got her a piano to play when she was11.

"Afamily was leaving town and they left us their upright piano I never would have gotten a piano otherwise.We couldn't afford it, but it was a glorious instrument," she said.

'Beg borrow and steal'

"Well, it's beg, borrow, and steal.I mean, if you have a passion to do something, you'll figure out a way, and I think that's one of the beautiful things about this initiative is it's giving people that opportunity," McLachlan said of the instrument lending library.

The instrument lending library received another 30 musical instruments from members of the public during an instrument drive, so the collection is now approaching 200 guitars, drums, mandolins and other instruments.

Sun Life Financial announced it was also matching the Vancouver donations at the Toronto and Montreal public librarieswhere instrument lending programs are alreadyup and running.

President Kevin Doughertyalso said the company plans to launch the program in several smaller cities, with 150 instruments each. He wasn't clear on how many cities would benefit or which ones.

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