Library offers curbside and online services

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Strathmore Municipal Library is now closed due to new public health measures, but it is still providing a range of services, including curbside pickup and online programming.

The province announced new public health measures on Dec. 8, including the mandatory closure of libraries starting on Dec. 13. As a result, the Strathmore library is now temporarily closed to in-person visits.

Curbside pickup and item return remain open, with no appointment required. To order materials, patrons need only place a hold online via TRAC (The Regional Automation Consortium, catalogue.tracpac.ab.ca) with a library card, or call the library at 403-934-5440. Once an order is ready, the patron is notified and can make an appointment to pick up the materials curbside at the library. The library is also offering curbside office services, such as printing, faxing, scanning and laminating.

In addition, the library continues to offer a range of virtual programming available through its website (strathmorelibrary.ca/events), including storytelling, typing lessons, kid’s yoga and STEAM Fridays. 

While these programs will stop while the library is closed over the holidays (Dec. 24 to Jan. 3), past events are viewable through the library’s YouTube page. This programming will start again in the new year.

A wide selection of online resources is also available through the library’s website (strathmorelibrary.ca/eResources). These include the Alberta Research Portal, a collection of primary literature; Ancestry, providing family trees and records; Cypress Resume, a resume builder; and Lynda.com, a massive online platform for learning anything from Adobe to Z-scores, among other resources.