Peter Bailey is closing the book on his career as the head of St. Albert’s public library.
The St. Albert Public Library Board announced in a letter June 17 that Bailey would retire as the library’s CEO this Aug. 31. Bailey has worked for the library for 24 years, the last 15 of which were as its CEO.
Bailey, who turns 61 this year, said the upcoming council election and many recent staff retirements meant it was time to pass the torch.
“I think I’ve instilled a strong vision in what the library does, and I think it’s time for someone with a new vision to take the helm.”
Bailey’s time with the library saw him guide the organization through significant growth in its digital services, outreach programs, and the creation of the Jensen Lakes Library, the board said in its letter.
“Peter’s vision and unwavering commitment to public service have left an enduring mark on our library and our city,” library board co-chairs Meagan Dechaine and Jennifer Freitas said in the letter.
“His advocacy, especially during critical moments such as the 2022 funding crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, ensured that the library remained a vital resource for the people of St. Albert.”
Libraries matter
Bailey said he came to St. Albert from Ontario in 2010 due to funding cuts imposed by the Mike Harris government. The last straw for him was when the boss of his old library covered a beautiful skylight with spray foam to save money, which he felt was a travesty.
“For me, library buildings are important. They need to be temples of the book — pleasant, beautiful places to be in.”
Having friends in St. Albert, Bailey decided to apply for a job as head of adult services at this city’s public library. Back then, the library still had paperbacks on its ground floor and bulky microfilm readers upstairs, and was just getting into public access computing.
“I remember walking through the front door of St. Albert Place and seeing this library through those glass windows, and just thinking, ‘I want to be a part of this place,’” Bailey said.
Bailey said a pivotal moment in his career happened in 2009 when the library did a needs study involving some 500 city residents. When 42 per cent of those residents said they used the library for reasons other than borrowing books, he realized it had to shift from being a place for books to a place for people.
“The future of libraries is not digital. It’s biological. It’s about people, not things,” he said.
“Without people, it’s not a library.”
Bailey said the library became much more of a community hub during his time, hosting makerspaces, computer classes for seniors, and the award-winning tea and bannock initiative. He also co-founded the STARFest St. Albert Readers Festival, which since 2011 has brought readers and award-winning writers together for insightful conversations.
Bailey said libraries were a place for people to meet each other face-to-face, which he saw as vital in this age of apathy and isolation. COVID-related lockdowns hit the library hard in this regard; the library was now rebuilding its slate of community events to bolster its in-person visits.
Bailey oversaw the library’s decades-long quest for more space — one that included a controversial plebiscite in 2017 and the opening of the Jensen Lakes Library in 2020. St. Albert still ranks near the bottom in terms of library space per capita, Bailey said, and its next public library CEO will have to continue this quest.
Bailey also served as chair of the Canadian Federation of Library Associations, president of the Library Association of Alberta, and as a member of the Centre for Free Expression’s working group on intellectual freedom.
Bailey said the library board hoped to hire his replacement by the end of summer. Once he retired, he planned to travel across Canada with his wife and catch up on his reading — the books for which he would undoubtedly borrow from the St. Albert Public Library.
