Outreach project a success story for Christina Lake

By Erin Perkins

A pilot project to establish an outpost library in Christina Lake has been well received by the community over the past six months.

"We expected the summer to be busier but we're finding that in the winter we are quite busy -- much more than anticipated," said Buzzell.

 

"We are very pleased with the uptake and with the response."

 

The library was opened in July 2011 in a free space located in Christina Lake Village -- 19 West Lake Drive. The outreach program is being tested for one year to determine if it is needed or wanted.

 

Six months in, and the library has seen a steady stream of regulars -- with only one down turn in September when everyone expected the library to close for the season, like so many other activities in Christina Lake, when in fact it is a year round program, said Buzzell.

 

The first three weeks of November saw 70 users.

 

Buzzell expects to see those numbers climb with the addition of a monthly book club meeting on the last Wednesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. starting Dec. 28. There is also a lot of school and preschool children enjoying the weekly library story time at 11 a.m.

 

"We want to be a useful part of our community. (With the Christina Lake library) we can help those who can't or don't want to come into Grand Forks over the winter to utilize the library services," said Buzzell.

 

Every Wednesday librarian Lizanne Eastwood opens the doors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Library card holders can order books through the online service and have them brought out to Christina Lake, they can return books and they can borrow books from the existing collection or through Inter-Library Loans. She also provides tutorials on how to download audio and e-books.

 

The browsing collection began with 300 titles and has now grown to a selection of 500 titles in every subject from children's fiction to non-fiction.

 

The satellite library costs about $12,000 a year to operate, which includes wages and mileage expenses. Buzzell has been funding the pilot project through discretionary hours -- staffing hours included in her original budget for emergency purposes -- but would like to have some permanent funding established in future budgets.

 

In the new year Buzzell will be making a budget presentation to the board of directors and the City of Grand Forks that includes a request to continue with the Christina Lake program based on the information to date. The board will then need to decide how they will proceed.

 

If you'd like to join the new book club, the first gathering is on Dec. 28 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. December's book selection is The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis.

 

For more information about the Grand Forks and District Public Library visit www.grandforks.bclibrary.ca. Call the library in Grand Forks at 250-442-3944 or on Wednesdays in Christina Lake at 250-584-4417.