SUNDRE – The local library remains on the rebound in the wake of disruptions endured during the pandemic.
“2023 was a building back year for us in terms of library memberships as we continue to recover from the decline in memberships that we saw over COVID,” Joy Willinhganz, Sundre Municipal Library manager, said to council on Nov. 12 during a regular meeting.
“It’s holding true for 2024 with a continued up-trend accompanied by a distinct increase in active memberships,” said Willinhganz, who was accompanied by George Waldern, one of several new board members.
“So people don’t just have memberships, they’re actively using them to engage with the library and borrowing materials,” she said, adding there are also many users who seek access to services that don’t require a membership – available at no cost – such as one-on-one tutoring, fax and copy services as well as the multitude of available programs that have also seen attendance numbers trending up.
“This year, attendance continues to increase with a distinct growth noted among children’s programs,” she said.
To gauge the library’s success in meeting its stated objectives, three areas are monitored: people, resources, and programs. Last year, circulation numbers had surpassed 2022 and year-to-date numbers suggests that that circulation level is consistent for this year. More specifically however, the year-to-date circulation of e-content was already up 20 per cent compared with 2023 year-end numbers, she said.
“Since January, we’ve offered a lot of new programs, welcomed some new noteworthy partnerships and made several new community connections,” she added.
Among the library’s focus points are to nurture young learners, support residents in pursuing life-long learning and being informed citizens as well as providing a safe, comfortable and welcoming space. Next year marks the end of the current strategic plan, which will then be revised and updated for 2026, she said.
Meanwhile, the facility’s space continues to be accessed and put to use by a variety of different groups such as the Greenwood Neighbourhood Place Society, which hosts inter-agency meetings.
“This year, we’ve also welcomed a lot of new groups,” she said. “River Valley School and Sundre High School wellness workers used the space for a four-part documentary on the challenges of raising teenagers in a digital world.”
As well, McDougal Chapel used space to host English as a second language conversation cafes, the Sundre Citizens on Patrol Association hosted an open house, the Peaks to Prairies Primary Care Network offered anxiety programs, and Moccasin House held an Indigenous art event, to name just few, she said.
Although early literacy is a major focus, the library also works alongside organizations such as The Den – Sundre Youth Centre to deliver tech tutoring opportunities at the Sundre Seniors’ Supportive Living centre.
The teen hangout program was also revamped and featured the introduction of mini golf and Nerf wars activities that were held outside of regular library hours, she said, adding long-standing programs and events such as the summertime Story Walk, the Halloween Extravaganza, as well as Alberta Arts and Culture Days held in partnership with the Sundre and District Museum continue.
“We are a firm believer in the value of partnerships in helping build community and helping us meet the needs of our community,” she said, citing a fairly new and mutually beneficial partnership with the local schools.
“Sundre High School has saved just under $18,000 by borrowing library items since the partnership started in early 2022,” she said, adding the library coordinates with the schools to ensure items of interest to students are included in the collection.
The library was also successful in applying for a Community Adult Learning Program grant that will enable further enhancing adult literacy programming to meet the community’s needs, including expanding digital offerings, basic financial literacy programs, career and resume training as well as English as a second language tutoring.
Looking ahead to next year’s budget forecast, she said the library anticipates an income increase of 7.3 per cent with expenses in 2025 estimated to go up about 6.6 per cent in large part due to impending audit and union negotiations as well as staff salary grid movements.
Per the budget included in the library manager’s report to council, revenues in 2025 are forecast to be almost $258,000 with expenses of nearly $248,000. But a multi-year estimate has revenues of close to $263,000 by 2028 with expenses at more than $281,000.
The library has experienced increased costs on materials and services with some areas seeing modest one or two per cent jumps while others have gone up as much as six to eight per cent. And although there was an increase in a provincial operational grant last year, that amount has been held going into 2025 and it is not known if or when it might be increased, she said.
So every effort is made to pursue partnerships with other service organizations and businesses to further help offset costs not covered by government grants and municipal funding from the town and Mountain View County, she said.
After Willinhganz concluded her presentation, mayor Richard Warnock noted the potential financial challenges looming on the horizon ahead and asked the manager if she anticipated eventually needing more help.
Every year, the manager works with the board’s finance committee to consider how to make the most of limited funds. Some expenses – including legal requirements such as union negotiations, audits and insurance – do not leave much room for any leeway.
“Some of those things we know we can’t adjust, so we look at what we can adjust,” she said. “I think we’ve really done well at partnering in ways that we can get the most we can for what we have, and we continue to look for more grant opportunities.”
The manager told the mayor that she does not expect any future shortfalls will be requested to come entirely from the contributing municipalities.
“Creating good partnerships opens up that opportunity,” she said.
Before council passed a motion accepting the report for information, Warnock expressed gratitude for work the manager and board does and added the municipality appreciates knowing the library is well governed.
