Library brings service to community

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

Throughout the years, books have always played a significant role in Arlene Brandt’s life. As an elementary student she helped her aunt repair books, volunteered at the Strathmore Municipal Library for a decade, and joked that she followed her grandmother’s footsteps – a woman who often placed reading a book at a higher priority than housework.
Yet over the years Brandt’s eyesight started to waver, her mobility was considered low, and her driver’s license was revoked. Unable to get to the library without the assistance of her children, who were often unavailable and don’t live locally, the avid reader was reduced to listen to an audio-tape a friend picked up at the recycle yard. Then in November, Brandt heard about the recently established Visiting Library Program.
“I’d be lost,” she said. “I wouldn’t have any books unless my kids could get them and that would be far and few between. When they came up with this I thought ‘aha,’ so it freed me up, I get my books, I don’t have to worry about them being overdue and my kids don’t have to run around.”
The Strathmore Municipal Library launched the Visiting Library program, a popular program in other communities, at the end of last year to service those physically unable to visit the facility. By providing help in selecting items, delivering books, DVDs, or audio material to their house, and dropping them back off at the library, the service already affected 12 individuals in various conditions including a 101-year-old-woman in senior’s housing, someone ill in the hospital, and a family who is unable to drop by the library regularly due to transportation issues. The once-a-month delivery service is especially effective for those suffering from a long-term illness, disability, an accident, or have transportation issues.
“She’s down one vehicle, her husband works in Calgary, and she has three small children so that whole thing of getting to the library is a hassle,” said Lea Jensen, Visiting Library coordinator, about the most recent patron that just signed up for the program.
“That’s the big thing. It’s for anyone. Now it’s picking up steam so we have to keep on going. I’ve noticed that some of the volunteers and patrons have made a bond. At Sagewood there’s a fellow and two ladies and one volunteer who goes there because they’re her friends.”
Owing to a grant from the United Way, the program was finally able to get underway in Strathmore. With just over $4,000 the funds provide the salary for the program coordinator, mileage for the five volunteers, advertising, and supplies. As the program has already received positive feedback, library staff members are considering expanding the free service into Strathmore’s peripheral areas and acquiring further funding next year.
“The United Way of Calgary and area has been very generous with the Strathmore Municipal Library to allow us to provide these types of programs and services to the community and it’s been quite successful so far,” said Carmen Erison, assistant director of library services.
“Because it’s so new we want to see how it goes here in the Town of Strathmore first and if we see that it’s a need and successful, we’ll certainly look for grants and expand it into Wheatland County. This one you do see quite a bit in other communities and that’s why we’ve been pushing to have this service in our community. We know it would be a benefit to our residents.”
According to Jensen the current volunteers manage well, yet the program will need to attract more volunteers as interest grows. All volunteers are required to provide a criminal record check. To learn more about the Visiting Library program and how to sign up visit www.strathmorelibrary.ca/visitinglibrary.