Nearly 30 people took part in a community engagement meeting held at the Innisfail Library/Learning Centre Feb. 6. Facilitator Vic Moisan, a community development officer with Alberta Culture, led residents through civic planning exercises reminiscent of the Envision Innisfail process.
“We were lucky to have that many people come,” said Melinda Mercer, chair of the strategic planning committee, with the Innisfail Public Library Board. “I think the discussion amongst everyone in the room was really positive, looking to the future.”
Though the community meeting was a mandated step in setting the library's own future course, the evening meeting covered much more ground than just books and literacy.
Topics of conversation reached from social services to mental health to youth issues.
Participants broke into groups to tackle different subjects, such as weaknesses, strengths and outside influences on the community. One session focused on thinking of very specific things to improve in town, and one suggestion was a new fire truck ladder.
“Vic will compile all the information,” she said. “We are planning to give Vic's report and our strategic report to the town.”
Library manager Laurie Hodges Humble said she was excited to see so much public interaction at the library on important subjects.
“It was about the whole town,” she said. “People were very engaged.”
In her opening remarks she stressed the important role libraries play in the development of community life.
“Traditionally libraries have focused on promoting literacy,” she said. “However, literacy skills are needed well beyond our early school years and reading is a skill that needs to be kept up throughout our lives for: completing a resumé, following job place policies, filling in medical forms and when we apply for government old age assistance.”
