Parkland Regional Library released statistics for its first Snapshot Day, which happened on Oct. 19.Thirty-five of the 50 libraries in the Parkland Regional Library system participated, attracting close to 5,000 people.ìIt was a wonderful experience for libraries. We had tremendous participation in Mountain View County and Red Deer County,î said Fran Kimmel, communications coordinator for Parkland Regional Library.ìPeople got highly involved and had a lot of fun.îThe Olds Municipal Library received 353 visitors. The library staff members answered 36 reference questions, while 80 used computers. Five programs were offered throughout the day and 60 people attended them.ìIt was wonderful. They had programs like a genealogy drop-in program, story hour, a junior readers club,î said Kimmel.ìThere was an author talk with Carolyn Fischer.îIn Didsbury, 265 people walked through the doors of the municipal library.ìSixteen reference questions were asked. Twenty-one people used computers,î said Kimmel.ìThe library offered the Parent Link program, a library tour, a knitting club program and 20 people participated.îEighty people went to the Sundre Municipal Library. The library staff was asked 12 reference questions and five people used computers. Twenty-five people participated in the programs offered that day.The Cremona Municipal Library had 24 visitors. One reference question was asked and three people used computers. The library also had a colouring contest going on and offered refreshments throughout the day.Twenty people visited the Water Valley Public Library Snapshot Day. Four reference questions were asked and two people used computers.ìThe library offered a book club that day, with 13 participants,î said Kimmel.Parkland Regional Library did not have statistics for the Bob Clark Public Library in Carstairs.Meanwhile, in Red Deer County, Bowden Public Library and Innisfail Public Library participated in Snapshot Day.Innisfail received 62 visitors. The library staff answered four reference questions and 15 people used computers.ìThey had a number of different programs with 20 people participating,î said Kimmel.ìThat includes story time, career-searching workshop and a teen and pre-teen workshop.îIn Bowden, the day also served as the grand opening of the public library. One hundred and thirty-eight people came in, no doubt to take a peek at the new space and eat cake. Eighteen people used computers and 80 people attended the offered programs.ìWe think these numbers show just how much people in Mountain View County and Red Deer County value their library,î said Kimmel.ìThey showed a tremendous support for their library on Snapshot Day in particular, but they also support their libraries and get a great deal of value from using their libraries year-long.îParkland Regional Library will now share its numbers with other regional systems.ìWhen we have that information, we will likely be producing material with that, in terms of this is what our province looks like,î said Kimmel.ìIn the meantime, we are doing our very best to share the results however we can at the local level, with the residents, boards and councils, just to let them know how people value their libraries and that is such a good thing to support.îParkland Regional Library is already thinking of having a Snapshot Day in 2012.
