INNISFAIL – Late last year Amy Ramsay decided to be a volunteer at the Innisfail Public Library.
Her primary task was shelving books.
Ramsay, who many years ago was schooled in office administration, had been working as an advanced lifeguard at Red Deer’s Collicutt Centre for the past decade.
And then things at the library escalated quickly.
She had hoped to eventually get a permanent job at the library, as she was seriously considering a career change from the pool.
“I was getting older and the job (lifeguard) is very physically demanding,” said Ramsay, an Innisfailian for the past 12 years; a “community involved person” who has been a committed volunteer, including with 4-H, Girl Guides of Canada, Innisfail Triathlon committee and the Innisfail Ski Hill.
“Now that my kids are older and they don't need me as much it is why I was ready to go back and return to the workforce in a professional office setting and what better place than at the library where it's in my community?”
Last January she was hired to work the circulation desk at the library.
“I just loved it more and more and more,” said Ramsay. “When we found out they were looking for a library manager, I thought I would throw my name in the hat.”
That toss in the hat found its mark spectacularly.
Following a Canada-wide search, the board of the Innisfail Pubic Library hired Ramsay to be the institution’s new library manager, replacing the popular Tara Downs who departed earlier this year.
“The library board is so excited to welcome Amy. She brings an energy and commitment to the Innisfail library and community that’s infectious,” said Pauline Wigg, board chair of the Innisfail Public Library.
Wigg said the timing is good for Ramsay’s arrival as it’s now a busy period for the library as there is a five-year Plan of Service to finish; a requirement with the provincial government.
“With the help of the library staff, our members and the board are just completing our community survey,” said Wigg. “Amy‘s leadership will be sure to take us through this process so that the library is a great resource now and into the future.”
Ramsay’s first day on the job for the library manager position was on April 10. There were learning curves to navigate, and she took a webinar on transitioning in positions.
“Somebody mentioned on that webinar that there's learning curves, and then there are steep learning curves,” said Ramsay. “They like to think a library manager position as a very steep learning curve.
“But the manager prior left everything just running so smoothly.”
And then there was the Plan of Service to finish.
Ramsay said the work involved surveying three per cent of library users on what they felt the five-year vision for the institution should be.
Ramsay said the three per cent goal was reached.
It will now be up to staff, board members, Friends of the Innisfail Library representatives to go over the feedback and move forward.
“I’m very happy to say there there wasn't a lot of improvements that people want. People love the library,” said Ramsay. “They did have some very good suggestions too.
“My vision would be to follow what the community wants,” she added. “We will obviously keep the library as wonderful as it already it.”
And that is Innisfail’s beloved community hub; a meeting place for all - a place to read, learn, interact, and discover and experience never-ending options.
“A library is more than just signing out a hard copy book,” said Ramsay. “And for people who don't know what we have here they just need to come and experience it and see what we have.”
