Building proverbial bridges with patrons while providing a welcoming atmosphere are top priorities for the Sundre Municipal Library’s new manager.
“I think that we’ve built a sense of community at the library,” said Karen Tubb, who earlier this month assumed managerial responsibilities following the retirement of Jamie Syer. For the previous five years she was the library's program coordinator.
“The patrons are our friends,” she said, citing the opportunity to socialize while getting to know people who frequent the library as what she enjoys most about her profession.
“It’s my experience that people who like to read books are usually really nice.”
From adolescents to seniors as well as families with young children and everybody else in between, Tubb said the library caters to a wide array of different user groups with a variety of interests.
“It’s the people that make it so positive.”
After Syer submitted his resignation, the former manager approached Tubb about the possibility of her taking on the role.
“I took it on with encouragement from Jamie,” said Tubb.
Additionally, having seen many positive changes at the library under Syer’s leadership, Tubb said she wanted to continue forging ahead with the initiatives he helped start.
“We try really hard to provide patrons with access to programs that meet the needs of our community,” she said, adding that every effort is made to bring in interesting materials that can not only inform people but also perhaps even challenge different perspectives.
“We provide services, in terms of materials and technology, that aren’t really accessible other places. People have come to value that.”
Additionally, library staff always remain receptive to people’s recommendations, she said.
“If patrons have suggestions, we’d love to hear them.”
An avid reader herself, Tubb said she enjoys — as well as recommends — anything by Wendell Berry, an author of fiction as well as non-fiction who she described as a rural philosopher who talks a lot about the important role rural communities play around the world.
She also recommends the work of Barbara Kingsolver, who mostly writes fiction but also dabbles in philosophical pursuits.
Although Syer is now retired, he said he really relished the opportunity to be a part of the library’s team for about six years, more than five of which were as the manager. Like Tubb, he too had started as the program coordinator until there was a vacancy for the manager’s position.
During that time, Syer said he sought to find ways to increase the library’s profile in the community so that more and more people were aware of what kinds of programs and services are available there.
He enjoyed working on many programs such as the Book Depot, which involved setting up book stations throughout various businesses in the community. Another was the human library, where people would come to the library to "check out" a person rather than a book to engage in conversations on different topics. He also noted the Books and Beyond community engagement sessions that had a tremendous turnout of people who explored ideas of where the library might be headed and what it should be involved in, he said.
“As we all know now, libraries have been changing a lot over the years,” he said, adding there is now far more involved than merely loaning books.
“It’s really a centre of the community. Some of our patrons call the library Sundre’s living room.”
From teenagers who came in to study, to members of groups such as the camera club and the knitters, Syer said he delighted in seeing people drop by for any number of reasons.
Although he likely won’t be a stranger at the library, Syer said he now plans to focus on some personal projects.
“My main career has always been as a musician,” he said, expressing enthusiasm for the opportunity to get back to playing more piano.
Also an aficionado of letter press printing, Syer said he’s also looking forward to exploring the old trade, “which has been a hobby of mine for a long time.”
In his absence, Syer said he has no doubt that with Tubb now overseeing operations, the library will continue to build on the solid foundation established by a strong team.
“The staff has created such a warm, welcoming atmosphere,” said Tubb.
“We hope that we can continue to be a central part of our community.”
