Chestermere Public Library

November 18, 2009

This has been an exciting year for the library: it has grown in collection, staffing, programs and membership. The library had tremendous community support from the word go and this year has been no different. Support has come in financial donations from a number of sources which can be seen on the “Sea of Thanks” in the library and also in time commitment. There are volunteers covering many aspects from events organising, storytelling, running programs, advocating and fundraising. Many have shown their faces regularly and I know will continue to do so.

The Library Board is on the verge of some changes but I can’t welcome new members until I have said “Thank you” to those who sat on the board over the past year and in some cases many more years, even before the physical library existed. Getting to this point needed tremendous vision and anyone coming into the library today would probably be surprised at what has been achieved. The library has now been open to the public just two years and we’ve had a lot of fun getting to this point.

It would be easy to look back over the year and pat ourselves on the back but I genuinely believe that where we are going is more important than where we’ve been. We have a new and enthusiastic group joining the board and I hope they hit the ground running.

A couple of weeks ago, our treasurer threw out a challenge to increase our numbers of membership households. This will be a very important step in order to get the capital amount that we need to run the library. The outreach package that has been created will be covering some miles and getting the Chestermere Library name well-known.

The children’s programs have had amazing success and I think it’s time to look at ways of supporting promoting other programs. The Library is looking at using different kinds of technology and will continue to work with RISE/Marigold to promote these.

Last but not least under the leadership of Jo Anne Houston, Library Director, we have a wonderful staff. They work hard and always go the extra mile to make the library experience a good one for the members and I for one appreciate the welcome I get every time I come in.

Board Members

Marilyn King (Chair)

Noelle Trung (Vice- Chair)

Pete Tindall (Treasurer)

Mallory Muller (Secretary)

Brook Burke (member-at-large)

Darcy King-Maillot (member-at-large)

Patrick Bergen (Town Councillor)

Christopher Steeves (Town Councillor)

There are still two places available. If you would like to join us, please send your Letter of Interest to Tracy Anderson at the Town Hall.