Library eyes new board members

Times Reporter

 

The Strathmore Municipal Library has an exciting opportunity available for anyone who has a passion and a love for libraries. In the past six months three library board members have left – one retired and two moved away. Provincial standards require the board to have five members, and currently they are at four. The hope is to find four new board members.

“Commitment is one of the things people would ask (about). What we say normally is count on an average of maybe seven to 10 hours a month for a commitment,” said Carmen Erison, assistant director of library services. 

“If someone is interested in joining the board right now they would be coming in at a really exciting time because right now as a lot of people know the library currently is very small. We have a hard time keeping up with circulation, providing the materials that people want to read because we don’t have the space to house (them). 

“The library is going to performing a feasibility study in the next year, we received a grant for this. The facility needs assessment will show the town’s library requirements for the next 20 to 30 years and make recommendations about our options to moving towards a new facility.”

Erison thinks now is the time for someone to really have a say about the future of the library and what it needs. New board members will be able to help plan, fundraise and get people excited about the results of the feasibility study. The board is also the ultimate responsible entity who makes sure the library is meeting their provincial requirements. They also help set policies and approve the financial documents. 

“I think people will be very excited about this because this is something we really need for our community and this gives a person a chance to be an active part of that,” said Erison. 

“What we generally want is somebody who is going to be willing to give their time, who is going to be dedicated to going to these meetings once a month and doing their required reading that’s needed before the meetings. 

“Essentially we’re just looking for somebody who has a passion for libraries who really believes in libraries, supports them and understands what their value is in a community.”

Erison said they would love to see a board that represents all aspects of the community. She would like to see someone who represents the senior’s community, or someone who represents families, maybe a member of the Foothills AIM Society, or even a young adult.   

“I think these would be great people to have on our board,” said Erison. 

All applicants must be at least 18-years-old. An application can be found and downloaded from www.strathmorelibrary.ca/libraryboard or picked up at the library. Municipal council will appoint applicants to the board.