It was once again a very busy year at the Salmo Public Library. In February, the Board hired Taylor Caron for the position of Librarian in Training, completing our staff team led by Acting Library Director Marianne Hansen. In addition to her duties as a librarian, Taylor is enrolled in Langara College’s Library Information Technology diploma program. As she completes more courses, Taylor will be able to take on a greater role in managing the library. Meanwhile, Marianne continues to provide outstanding leadership within the library and great service to patrons. Gayle Jarek is an invaluable staff member, overseeing the library on Mondays and still training all our new volunteers. As the library world becomes more and more engaged in the digital information universe, the demand for new services and programs increases. The role of the library even in our small community is evolving as libraries are seen increasingly as platforms for community innovation. The library is no longer just a repository for books and other print materials; through online databases, webinars, blogs, Facebook, and public access computers and WiFi, we are a place with almost unlimited access to information. Through increased collaboration, our members can borrow books from any library in BC and beyond at no cost. Using the BC OneCard, patrons can also borrow books directly from other BC libraries and return them right here in Salmo. Never before has so much been so easily available to so many for so little. No wonder we are passionate the services we provide. At the same time, we are scrambling to keep up. That’s why the Board is focusing on increasing resources for staff, both monetary and in terms of work space. It is librarians that make all this wonderful stuff happen for our community, and we need to acknowledge and support them.
Our Library Expansion and Renovation Project continues. We spent a lot of time in 2012 jumping through hoops, but we have an approved plan, a firm idea of what we have to do to bring our facility up to code, and a building permit. Now it’s a matter of continuing to raise the necessary funds and contracting the work. This is all quite a challenge for our small volunteer Board, but we remain inspired by the vision of what our facility will one day be. With the leadership of staff, our library continues to develop meaningful partnerships with other groups in the community. The Arts Council, the Local History Group, Space on the Floor, the Community Centre, Salmo Community Services, the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy, the schools, the Farmers’ Market—by working together, we are adding value to each other’s programs. Another priority is to provide more programming in Ymir, and we now have a drop box for returning library materials at ‘The Goods.’ Collaboration, innovation, partnership, open access to information, excellent service: these are the hallmarks of libraries in the 21
st century and the
Salmo Public Library is there. Thanks to all our volunteers, who continue to make our library possible, to the Friends of the Library, and to our committed Board members. We want to especially acknowledge the contribution of Tom Lewis to the library; Tom served eight years on the Board and also took on the role of President of the Square Society. He worked diligently to improve the facility and staff working conditions. As always, we appreciate the continued financial support of the Village of Salmo and the RDCK and of the provincial government. We are also grateful for support from Fortis BC, the Columbia Basin Trust, and the many contributors to our ’50 for 50’ campaign. Thank you for appreciating us enough to entrust us with your hard earned dollars.
