A Library Membership Gives You Access to More Than Books.
Recently our public library participated in an application for a grant. The grant application was successful. Then town council decided that half of the amount should be granted to the community centre. One councilor was quoted as saying "I have nothing against the library but" He went on to say how much more relevant the community centre was than the library. He obviously does not recognize all of the great things that our library brings to our town. The Chestermere Public library in one year has 4,000 members.
Thankfully Coucliller Bergen pointed out that the Library did not have the ablility to charge for its programs the way the community centre does. Thankfully the library got one half of the funds.
A library is a place that you can say yes to your kids. Yes, we can check-out that book. Yes, we can borrow that movie. Yes, you can go to the free movie. Yes you can go to the free storey time. Yes, we can take you to a free math tutor.
At a time of skyrocketing costs and an uncertain economy, there cannot be a better investment than a $25 library card. Many families will find many activities too expensive for their children to participate in. But the library can help parents give opportunities to their children that they would not be able to afford on their own.
The library is good for all ages, and all abilities. You can study English here. You can take out a book in a foreign language. You can meet a friend for a coffee here. You can use the library's computer or use the wireless Internet connection for your own computer. You don't have to buy anything to enjoy the library.
The library is working with the YELL (Youth Encouraging Lasting Leadership) group to make the library a place where our youth can hang out for free. In town limits we have 2000 kids between 10 and 20. If you are not an athlete, you need a place to hang out. This age group needs a place that they can go so they can see others and be seen. It does not matter what you do to make your home a great place for them to hang out they need their own place. So far the library is the only place in town that has stepped up and said that they want this group. They are inviting them by bringing in movies they will like, they want them to feel free to play live music there. There is wireless Internet for them, they want to have coffee for them, seating they will like, They are offering to give them special hours so they have a safe place to hang out Friday or Saturday evenings--even though they don't have the funding to be open these hours. Library staff are talking about volunteering their time so that they can do this for the kids.
We should be proud of what our community volunteers have achieved. We have an exceptional resource in our town. This resource would not be here if it were not for the efforts of our local citizens. Check out our public library. It is located at the North end of the lake on the West side in the bottom of the town hall. (The Big Brick building on the bottom floor.) After you visit the library, drop a note to or call your town councilor and let them know how much you appreciate your library and how important it is to you that it be adequately funded.
