If you’d like to help support the work of the Drayton Valley Library there’s never been a better time to put your name forward. This month steps are being taken with the aim of setting up a Friends of the Library group in this community.
Friends of the Library groups are fairly common across Canada. Broadly speaking they focus on raising awareness of library services and on fundraising for items which fall outside of the library’s regular budget. Members are volunteers and are neither library staff or members of the library board. The group operates as a society with charitable status, which opens the door for fundraising initiatives which are not otherwise available.
For those looking to learn more about plans to set up a Friends of the Library group in Drayton Valley, information sessions are set for Thursday January 13 at 1:15 p.m. and Thursday January 27 at 6:30 p.m. Anyone interested can register to attend via Zoom by calling 780-514-2722. Those who prefer can also attend in person at the library, although space is limited.
“We’ll be talking about what Friends can do and can’t do and what kind of commitment is involved,” says library director Doug Whistance-Smith.
In spite of some interruptions to its operations during the pandemic, Whistance-Smith says the library has seen increased demand for services in recent months and continues to play an important role in the lives of many members of the community. He says he hopes an active Friends group can help to advocate on behalf of the library as well as undertaking initiatives related to fundraising and increasing the library’s profile.
“The potential is endless,” he says.
The information sessions are open to both town and county residents, and to anyone who is interested in helping support the library.
