The Friends of the Water Valley Public Library
Who are we?
We are a group working to support our library. Membership is open to anyone wishing to help the library. We have begun the process of becoming a registered charitable organization.
Why do we need Library Friends?
The library provides many technical services that cannot be run by volunteers alone. So we really need our library manger, Jaymee Shea. However, current funding to cover the costs of books and salary is far from adequate. To help make ends meet, we actively lobby government, apply for grants and carry out fundraisers.
What have the Library Friends accomplished?
- Prepared several reports/interviews for the local press and received a lot of publicity about our financial problems
- Lined up and trained new volunteers to help out in the library including running the circulation desk when needed, phoning overdues, shelving, cleaning, scanning, etc.
- Created special holiday displays in the library on a regular basis
- Assembled new computer desks for the library
- Successfully applied for a grant from Shell Canada for books
- Collected a donation of books from Carstairs Library
- Held a Christmas cookie raffle and silent art auction which raised over $1,000
- Received proceeds from two benefit concerts
- Raised about $7,300 in total
- Prepared a funding proposal which was submitted to Mountain View County and presented to the Council (waiting a response)
- Researched and prepared a library facility needs assessment, prepared a proposal for expansion and renovation and met several times with local stakeholders and government agencies
- Lined up significant volunteer labour (interior design, finishing carpentry, structural engineering, general labour) for the renovation
- Prepared a response to the draft Mountain View Recreation and Culture Master Plan
What are our priorities for the upcoming year?
- Pursue our funding request with the County
- Work with local groups on the library renovation.
- Raise funds through grant applications, our annual cookie raffle/silent auction, another benefit concert at Beaupre and a book sale at Water Valley Days
- Work with the Water Valley Community Association on a renovation/expansion of the library.
- And if approved, embark on a new library enhancement project of a cultural events series bringing live music and speakers to Water Valley
With your help we can build a library that will serve Water Valley for many generations.