The move to the new building has allowed the Olds Municipal Library to be much more flexible in its offerings to the public and has been a great boon to staff, according to the library manager.
“We're so happy that now we have meeting rooms and computer rooms and program rooms that we can provide programs in. And because of that, we've been able to partner with so many more people and provide programs for the community that we maybe couldn't have before. We're looking forward to our fall programs,” Lesley Winfield said.
Programs such as seniors' classes during the day have made the library a better place for everyone in the community, Winfield said.
In a submission to council's Policies and Priorities meeting on April 18, Winfield outlined the library's 2010 annual report. Despite being closed for one full month in 2010, the library still experienced an increase of about 3,000 items circulated, to 85,000. The library borrowed 14,102 items from other libraries throughout Alberta in 2010, up from 7,222 the previous year. It also lent out 24,453 items to other libraries, nearly tripling the 8,815 items lent out in 2009.
Because of the new space, Winfield said the library is able to run all of its own programs much more efficiently, plus it's able to bring in other groups to run their programs at the library.
“It doesn't just benefit us at the library. It benefits all these other organizations that we're able to partner with,” she said.
The public response to the new library has been extremely positive, Winfield said, adding that the new library has between 1,200 and 1,400 visitors per week, compared to 600 to 700 per week at the old location. There are 3,422 residents of the Town of Olds who have a library card, while 1,017 county residents have library cards.
The library showed a net loss of 1,827 items in 2010, as it added 2,663 items to its collection, but discarded 4,490 items. It now has a total of 36,228 print items and 3,649 non-print items. Winfield told councillors that the library added 200 eBooks to its collection and will be adding more this year.
“Ebooks are very popular right now (but) publishers are a little bit slow to get on the bandwagon,” she said.
While the financial statements for 2010 have yet to be approved by the library board, the library showed a budget excess in 2010 of $41,510, which will be going into reserves.
"(The new building) doesn't just benefit us at the library. It benefits all these other organizations that we're able to partner with."Lesley Winfield, Olds Municipal Library, manager
