SUNDRE – With public health measures and indoor gathering restrictions in the rearview mirror, the local library has since fully reopening its doors been experiencing a surge of patrons eager and grateful to return to access resources and programs in person.
“Familiar faces are returning to the library, having been absent or irregular during the pandemic,” Joy Willihnganz, Sundre Municipal Library manager, told council during a delegation at the regular Nov. 28 meeting when she presented highlights from the past year.
“2022 has been a very exciting year for us,” said Willihnganz. “While the library building was closed for 40 per cent of 2021, we are now returned to our full opening hours and our full programming.
“Our residents have returned to the library as a place for social connection and access, and we are once again seeing library blossom as a hub for the community.”
Staff monitor and regularly evaluate developing trends on the ongoing effort to cater to the community’s needs, and visits have steadily been increasing in recent months, she said.
Additionally, she said a growing number of people who recently relocated to the area have been dropping by to check out what the community has to offer.
That increased traffic by extension has translated to a growing demand for both digital and physical resources beyond literacy materials, including for example a telescope, snowshoes, activity bags, binoculars and even a 3D printer, she said.
“Our year-to-date circulation stats are up and indicate that we’ve surpassed our total checkouts for last year and the year prior. Our programs are well attended and enthusiastically subscribed,” she added.
The library also strives as part of its mission to provide a comfortable and inclusive space for everyone, she said.
“We currently have a regular group of 10 to 15 pre-teens who started using the library as a hang-out place,” she said. “They talk, play games and have an occasional dance party in the stacks.”
There is also a diverse range of multi-generational programs to offer support for residents’ wide variety of needs.
“Our tech tutoring remains very popular for seniors needing help with their smart devices,” she said. “And we’re seeing a growing number of younger residents that are looking for help updating their resumes and creating cover letters.”
The manager said she is also pleased to be able to deliver a number of arts and culture related programs in partnership with other community organizations such as the Sundre & District Museum.
Library staff dolled out some 4,000 pieces of candy to about 125 children during the recent Halloween carnival games hosted at the museum grounds.
The library even offered refuge to a local youth who had nowhere else to turn when Sundre was earlier this summer placed under a tornado watch, she said.
“We had a 12-year-old student ask to stay in the library,” she said. “He didn’t have anybody at home to go to, his house didn’t have a basement, and he knew that the library was a safe place.”
And the wealth of materials available also helps patrons access items they likely otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford. One patron saved about $58,000 by using the library’s resources, she said.
The library was also named a recipient of the 2022 Minister’s Award for Municipal and Public Library Excellence for mental health activity kits it offered patrons.
In 2021, the last full year of available statistics, the library recorded that 768 patrons had borrowed 33,526 books, DVDs, audiobooks, ebooks and eaudiobooks, representing an average of 43 items per member.
There were 17,600 in-person visitors plus another 16,605 online visitors with 1,246 new items added to the collection. There were also 1,690 people who participated in 109 in-person programs.
The library’s computers were used for an average of 21 hours per week to assist patrons with for example school assignments, job searches, entertainment, as well as research.
On the average day, the library provided 60 free Wi-Fi sessions. The wireless internet services is available 24-7 throughout the year, potentially allowing upward of 22,004 connections annually.
Looking ahead to the coming year, Willihnganz said the library will endeavour to further expand upon partnerships with community groups to offer increased intergenerational programming as well as support for youth through programming that enhances educational learning, and to build community wellness through arts and culture programming and opportunities for creative expression.
The library’s 2023 budget, which earlier in November was approved by its board of directors, forecasts an income increase of one per cent as well as a two per cent increase for expenses, primarily as a result of increasing utility and supply costs.
Staff look to find cost-saving efficiencies wherever possible, including by leaning on the Parkland Regional Library System as well as through partnerships with other libraries, community service organizations and local business sponsors.
The 2023 budget forecasts revenues of $231,055 and expenses of $233,800, including $154,500 for wages and benefits.
“While we anticipate stable funding from our government sources, we anticipate reduced income through donations and fundraising and grants due to increased inflationary impacts on household spending and increased competition for grants,” Willihnganz said.
Her report is available in full on the municipality’s website, www.sundre.com, by clicking on “Council” under the main page’s “Your Government” tab, then selecting “Meeting Minutes and Agendas” to find the Nov. 28 package.
Responding to a question from mayor Richard Warnock about whether groups were once again meeting in person, the manager said some had folded but added many more were returning.
“For example, the camera club is no longer in operation,” said Willihnganz.
However, groups such as the Primary Care Network, Mountain View Family Resource Network, palliative care, artists, and knitters continue to regularly use library’s space to host their weekly and monthly or sometimes even standalone events.
“So, we do have a lot of groups,” she said, adding the library is receptive to any organization that might be interested in using the facility’s space.
Council expressed gratitude not only for the presentation but also the service provided to the community by the library’s staff, and carried a motion accepting the report for information.
