I was surprised and disappointed to read city manager Patrick Draper’s comments in the Saturday, Sept. 12 Gazette that the community branch library project will “likely be identified as low priority by the city's new facility matrix model.” Surprised as his comments suggest that the results of the facility model process are already known, despite the fact that consultations with stakeholders and surveys of residents are ongoing.
I was disappointed because addressing the public library’s space need has been our board’s priority for more than 10 years. The problem is now acute. Over those 10 years we have seen neighbouring municipalities – Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, Morinville, Leduc, Edmonton – build new or expanded libraries to serve their citizens. St. Albert has fallen behind, now with one of the lowest library space per capita rates in Alberta. While other municipalities are able to provide ample space for preschoolers to build vital literacy skills, St. Albert preschoolers are turned away. Our programs are full to capacity within five minutes of registration opening. This is simply unacceptable in a city that prides itself as being one of the best places to live in Canada.
In the recent community vision process, thousands of residents said their highest priority was preserving St. Albert’s “small-town feel.” The library excels at this: building community and bringing people together. On Friday night hundreds filled the Arden Theatre at the library’s presentation of author Lawrence Hill. This summer saw 3,000 local kids and teens read 26,000 books as part of the Summer Reading Games. In 2014, the library loaned more than a million items. The new branch will build on success, allowing the library to offer programs to build literacy, life-long learning and community life for our growing population.
Without the proposed community branch library we will simply not be able to maintain the high level of service St. Albertans have come to expect. St. Albert, this is your time. Contact a member of council and help us ensure council places the community branch library high on the capital priority list during the upcoming 2016 budget discussion.
Charmaine Brooks, Chair, St. Albert Public Library Board
