Director's Message

Apr. 06, 2020 Rachel Dick Hughes

Library Service in a Challenging Time

Hello to the Strathmore Library community! I have missed you and will continue to miss you for a while yet!

We are terribly disappointed and heartbroken not to be able to offer full service to you all during this difficult time, but safety is paramount, and it ranks even higher than having a good supply of books right now!

Sitting here at my kitchen table isn’t exactly how I pictured my return from maternity leave to look. I have watched in awe over the past year as the library has set records for attendance and programming. In my absence, the library secured the provincial grant for the Community Adult Learning Program. This is an opportunity to provide much-needed support to individuals that will greatly enrich and strengthen our community. The library’s capacity has grown immensely, and I am very excited to return to this incredible team and organization.

I want to thank Miranda Johnson, Interim Director, for the phenomenal job she has done navigating through immense change, leading our staff and our library to new heights. The library is in a terrific position to support our community through this uncertain future, and we will do our best to help you through as much as we can.

Our staff have been diligently working away to provide as much service and support as they can to our patrons while our facility is closed. You may have seen some online programming on Facebook that is now available YouTube. We are working on a solution to answering phone calls while the building is empty. And watch for video tutorials on our e-resources. One blessing in this difficult time is that we are all being challenged to learn new things, and the library staff are here to help you through it while they learn plenty themselves.

This is a new experience for all of us. If you have any suggestions or feedback for us, we would love to hear from you. Email me at director@strathmorelibrary.ca or visit us on Facebook.

In the meantime, keep healthy and safe. Visit our website for all kinds of great resources to help you through. And get lost in a good book – there’s no better time!