It has taken them 22 years but the Friends of the St. Albert Public Library say they don’t think of it as finally making it to the finish line of a race. As far as they are concerned, so long as there is a library, they want to be right beside it giving it support in whatever way they can.
The fundraising group presented a cheque for approximately $7,000 to the library board yesterday, bringing its lifelong tally to $100,000. This is a significant milestone but one it insists only serves to help remind everyone how important the library is to the community.
“It’s a wonderful group that does a lot more here than they get credit for,” explained Shelley Martell, the library’s communications and fund development assistant. “They’re like a built-in staff resource. Any time we’ve needed something, they’ve always come through. The library says, ‘We’d like to be able to do this,’ and the Friends help out.”
Brenda Batchelor, the group’s president, responded simply, “We appreciate the library. We believe in the library.”
Formed in 1988, the Friends show their committed and unwavering support by volunteering and providing financial assistance through many different fundraising efforts, both small and large. Batchelor said that the early days involved many book and bake sales and raffles complemented with more involved efforts to gain corporate donations and substantial government grants.
“The Friends then began organizing a variety of events that received great support and garnered much enthusiasm among participants.” She listed off Just Desserts evenings, a Pre-Tenors concert and the recent production of Memories of a Christmas Ornament by local thespians Maureen Rooney and Paul Punyi. Of course the Reel Monday film series at Grandin Theatres — now in its sixth season — is immensely popular and successful too. The last in the current series will be the Atom Egoyan drama Chloe. It’s set to run one time only on May 31 but, just like most other screenings in the series, is nearly sold out and only limited tickets for $10 each are available at the door.
The next big event is brand new, courtesy of one city councillor who also sits on the library board. The James Burrows Library Classic is a golf tournament that will be taking place on June 16 at the Sandpiper Golf Course. The $125 admission includes your green fees, cart and a steak dinner. All proceeds will go to the Friends’ efforts to support the library.
“The Friends have always come through for us,” stated library board chair, Kelly Aisenstat. “Thanks to them, last year the library was able to purchase extra audio-visual materials, over 900 books and the lawn signs that helped promote our summer reading game for children. [They] are also some of the library’s most reliable volunteers and ambassadors. We are very lucky to have such a dedicated group as part of our library community.”
To learn more about the group or to get involved with any of its activities including the upcoming charity golf tournament, please call the library at 780-459-1530 or visit www.sapl.ab.ca.
