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By Jessie Bach
Ask any library worker or board member in Alberta what their library needs, and they will likely say “more funding.” It’s a fact of life in the library world that there will never be enough money for all the books, programs, and technology they need, not to mention maintaining their spaces, paying their staff, and keeping the lights on. It’s a never-ending juggling act.
So many of us love our local libraries and want to see them thrive, but supporting the library with a donation of cold, hard, cash isn’t always in the budget. Below, find nine ways that you can support your local library without spending a dime!
1. Get a library card!
It’s really that simple. Libraries can make a greater case for provincial, municipal, and grant funding when they can show that people use them. When you sign up for a library card, you will be included in the library’s overall number of cardholders. And here’s a little hack — instead of signing up for a “family” membership, make sure each member of your family has their own library card, even if you just use one for your day-to-day borrowing.
Becoming a member of the local library is free in most Alberta municipalities these days — check your local library’s website for information about how to sign up for a library card.
2. Borrow books (and more).
That’s right, an easy and affordable way to support your library is simply to use it! If you’ve been following my column here on Read Alberta for a while, you know that Alberta’s libraries offer access to a collection of millions of books and ebooks, as well as movies, music, online databases, streaming services, “things,” and so much more. So, take the opportunity to borrow to your heart’s content. Excited about the latest title by a local Alberta author? Check it out! Ready for a lazy weekend bingeing your favourite comfort show? Borrow the boxed set or stream it on Kanopy! Load up your phone with music, ebooks, and Alberta-published magazines before your next cross-Atlantic flight.
When you use the library by borrowing materials and using online resources, you’re contributing to their circulation statistics, a key metric by which libraries measure their success. When they can present strong data to funders showing that their resources are well-used and in demand, libraries demonstrate that they are an important community service that people use and love.
3. Host a program.
Do you have a special talent, skill, or interest that you love to share with others? Contact your local library and offer to host a program. This could be something like a beginner’s crochet class, a cake decorating lesson, or a tech troubleshooting session — the sky really is the limit. Your library will benefit by having the opportunity to offer a great event that gets people through the door, and you will get to share your skills and meet like-minded folks from your community.
4. If you’re a local author, host a reading, book signing, or workshop.
As an Alberta author, your local library is a great place to work, perform research, and engage with other bookish people. Give back to the library by offering to host a reading of your latest work, a book-signing event, or even a writing workshop. Just like in the point above, this could be a win-win for both you and the library. The library will get to offer exciting local content to patrons, and it will help you to promote your new book. Bonus points if you also donate a copy to the library collection.
5. Share the library’s posts on social media.
Libraries use Facebook, X, Instagram, and other social media sites to share news about events and programs, new materials, and what goes on behind the scenes at the library. Give them a follow, engage with their content, and share their posts to your own feeds. By doing so, you can help the library get the word out, and raise awareness in the community.
6. Tell all your friends how great the library is.
In addition to sharing online, talk up the library “IRL” (“in real life” for those of you who aren’t chronically online).
7. Volunteer!
Volunteers play important roles in Alberta’s libraries, where there are often not enough hours in the day for staff to perform all the work they need to do. The possibilities for volunteer work in libraries are endless. With a little training, volunteers can assist with shelving books, presenting story times, or creating posters and flyers for library services and programs. There are “Library of Things” items to clean and fundraisers to set up for. Books to repair, parade floats to build, and summer reading programs to supervise. You could even offer to write a book or movie review for their next newsletter.
Whether you have a lot of time to spare, or just a little, the local library could probably use your help.
8. Write to your local representatives.
In Alberta, libraries receive most of their funding from municipal and provincial governments. When election time or budget season rolls around, take the opportunity to write to your local candidates to express your love for the library and ask about their position on libraries and library funding. If you aren’t sure what to write or how to format your letter, there are some handy guides out there to help you craft your message; here’s an example from the Yellowhead Regional Library System.
9. Join your local library board.
Alberta’s municipal libraries are governed by volunteer boards of between five and ten members, each appointed by their local municipal councils. If you are passionate about local library service and want to contribute to its success, consider joining your local library board. Library board members play an integral role in determining the library’s strategic plan and budget, plan fundraising events, and develop and maintain the policies that govern the library’s operation. In comparison to some of the options above, joining a library board will take up a little more of your time. Library boards generally meet monthly and may have subcommittees dedicated to areas like fundraising, policy, or budgeting.
If you have the capacity and enthusiasm for supporting your library as a member of the board, express your interest to the Library Manager or a current member of the board!
Supporting your library starts with simply using it — get a library card, borrow materials, and use the online resources. Then, spread the word about the library online and in real life! Finally, if you have a little more time, interest, or a skill to share, contact your local library and offer your time. Big or small, your contribution will help your library thrive.
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About the Author:
Beyond the Stacks is a column about libraries in Alberta and the useful and necessary services they provide.
Jessie Bach grew up on a family farm in Southern Alberta and is a lifelong library user and book lover. She has a degree in history from the University of Saskatchewan, and a Master of Library and Information Studies from Dalhousie University. Jessie has worked in archives, academic libraries, corporate records management, and now public libraries. Her current role is Communications & Engagement Manager at Marigold Library System. She currently lives in Calgary with her partner and, in true librarian fashion, three cats. Jessie likes to read (of course), knit, consume way too many true crime podcasts, and lift weights in the gym.