Lots of people are checking out the new home of the Innisfail Public Library and are signing up or renewing their cards while they're at it.
"We are having a phenomenal interest in the library," said Laurie Hodges Humble, the library manager. Hodges Humble said the numbers for 2012 so far are just over double the renewal and signup numbers from 2011.
The new library building opened its doors on Jan. 23 and new computers arrived recently for use of the public.
According to Hodges Humble, so far in 2012, 130 individuals have signed up or renewed their cards and 85 family cards have been taken out for a total 215 cards. For the same time period in 2011 there were 74 individual and 23 family signups for a total of 97.
The numbers do not take into account the fact that the library was closed for over half of January this year whereas in 2011 it was open for the same period.
"We are seeing people from the town and county that never used our services before," she said.
"It's really exciting and it's adding to the dynamic of the building."
Hodges Humble credited curiosity about the new building with the increase in numbers.
"Everybody loves a new building," she said.
"I think a lot of people in 2011 were tired of waiting for the new building," she said of why renewals and signups weren't as strong last year.
Hodges Humble and other staff said the library has been busier since its opening than it was in its previous location.
With the new building has come 10 new computers for public use, courtesy of a British Petroleum donation to the Friends of the Library.
"They're beautiful new Dells," Hodges Humble said.
With the arrival of the new computers, the library will be offering introduction to computer courses on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturdays in March.
"We have an IT youth intern working," Hodges Humble said. The intern is funded through the federal initiative Community Access Program.
Hodges Humble said the courses will allow patrons to get to know their computer and what they can do with it. The courses are free of charge and interested people can sign up at the front counter of the library building.
Introductions to downloading books to ebook readers are going to be held at the library as well.
Hodges Humble said the province is working on a new initiative for all Albertans to have better access to ebooks.
Library patrons do need to sign a computer usage agreement but are able to use the new machines for web surfing and word processing. Hodges Humble said the library does charge for printing, faxing and scanning.
