Granum Public Library manager Tami Nickerson greets visitors at the open house on May 24.
Granum Public Library has started a new chapter in its story of service to the community.
Extensive renovations and new approaches to programming have pumped new life into the library in the community of about 500 people.
“We want it to be the heart of the town,” library manager Tami Nickerson said. “It’s the heart of the community. It’s safe and it’s inviting,”
“The books are just a small part of it when you come here for community and support.”
The library held an open house on May 24 to showcase recent renovations and upgrades to the building.
The project was envisioned to freshen the space so it meets the present needs of the community and better support families and individuals.
The project began with former librarian Jennifer Fawcett, who wanted to turn the front room of the library into a multi-purpose space.
The library applied for a grant from the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta.
The community foundation awarded the library a $14,000 grant from its community fund through the MD of Willow Creek Library Board.
“The front room became more of a community space,” library board secretary Lynn Penniket said. “It’s more of a multi-purpose space.”
The grant funded the replacement of the window that overlooks the street, window coverings, new flooring and new lighting.
Before the project began, the library board decided to replace the aged flooring throughout the building.
The Friends of Granum Library contributed $8,000 toward that initiative.
“That allowed us to not only complete the room we were working on, but replace the flooring for the entire library,” Penniket said. “It just made more sense to do it all at once, rather than trying to piecemeal it together.”
Work on the project began in earnest in January and the completed project has exceeded expectations,
”It’s phenomenal,” Penniket said.
As with any renovation project, more needed work was discovered along the way, resulting in the replacement of some drywall and other repairs.
Penniket and the board credit the vision of Fawcett and Nickerson.
“They really turned it into a welcoming space for anybody and everybody in town,” Penniket said.
Granum Public Library houses a collection of close to 9,000 items, including books.
Seniors come to take out books, get computer help or just to socialize.
Expanded programming caters to families and children.
“By having the space more flexible with the moveable shelving unit we’re able to host larger numbers of people for programs,” Nickerson said.
Granum Public Library now attracts about 200 people a month, a significant increase in traffic.
That’s due in part to new collaborations with Granum school and Kids First Family Centre in Fort Macleod.
Next on the list of projects is upgrading the library’s furnace and air conditioning.
“That will be our next grant push,’” Penniket said. “We’ve taken an old building that is solid with good bones and are trying to update it.”
Granum Public Library is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 4-8 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Granum Public Library manager Tami Nickerson greets visitors at the open house on May 24.
The Friends of Granum Public Library held a fund-raising book sale.
The front room of the library was renovated as a multi-purpose room.
