Crowther library partners with public library

Times Contributor

 

The Crowther Memorial Junior High School library will offer a new service to students this fall. 

“We have joined up with the public library (Strathmore Municipal Library) to give all our students (public) library cards,” said Jennifer Young, Crowther’s Library Clerk. “This is so that our students will have access to the Overdrive system.” 

The Overdrive system provides electronic materials, including e-books and audio books.

Through another program, called the one-to-one initiative, “every student will have a laptop to call their own,” Young said. “We felt that this is a perfect time to give students access to e-books, since all students will have a device to read on.

“Believe it or not, students still love to read. However, (the way) they are reading has changed. I have observed that students prefer to read on laptops, e-readers, phones, iPods, iPads, et cetera.

“With the Overdrive system, students can download a book at midnight on Saturday. They do not have to visit the library, and always have access 24/7.”

Students have Young’s determination and ingenuity to thank for their new privilege. 

“We looked at running our own Overdrive system,” she said. “It was very cost prohibitive.”

But she wasn’t easily deterred. 

“I called the public library and inquired if they would be willing to drop the cost of a student card,” she said. “After a board meeting, they said yes, and sounded just as excited as I was.”

Of course, the new library cards still need to be paid for. 

“As it stands now, we are going to pass the cost on to students as part of the school fees,” Young said. “If any service groups in town are interested in contributing to help fund this initiative, they can certainly call me. The cards are good for one year, so students will have to pay every year.”

In addition to the new public library card program, and the one-on-one laptop program, the Crowther School library will continue to be the site for School Fuel, a breakfast program. 

“The Hope Church has supplied us with breakfast for two years now and we really appreciate it,” said Young. “I was tired of watching students drink energy drinks and calling that breakfast.”

The library will always be a supervised place for students to read, study and finish projects. 

“The library is open before school, (and during) break and lunch, giving students access to printers, computers, books, and poster supplies (scissors, stickers and et cetera),” Young said. “This gives the students every opportunity to finish school projects at school, as well as a safe place to hang out.”

Asked if she had any further wishes for the Crowther Library, Young said, “I already got my wish.”

However, she admitted that “I would like to have an author(s) come in, but that is a financial issue as well.”

Young is proud to say her library was recently featured on the School Libraries in Canada website: http://clatoolbox.ca/casl/slicv31n2/312profile.html.

Anyone who’d like to volunteer or donate to Crowther School’s library projects is invited to call Jennifer Young at 403-934-4646.