By Red Deer Public Library

Celebrate Canadian Library Month with Red Deer Public Library

Oct 11, 2018 | 10:14 AM

Technology, Diversity, Free Cards, Free Programs – RDPL evolves with focus on customer needs

Technology
In 1966, Canadian libraries celebrated Canadian Library Week with a teletype demonstration between Vancouver and Fredericton.* The teletype was a big deal and created excitement in the library world for its ability to make answering reference questions and information gathering more efficient.

Today, Canadian Library Week is now Canadian Library Month and technology has far surpassed teletype, playing a larger than ever role in libraries and in people’s daily lives.

“Libraries are more and more becoming a ‘go to’ for public tech needs and information because everything is computerized, cars, smart phones and even TVs,” said Digital Literacy Librarian Linnea Lawton. To meet customer’s varying tech needs, along with public internet stations and printing options, RDPL now offers courses, tech help and tech toy programs in a new digital literacy area in the Downtown Branch.

“Not everyone is good at using computers and some people are experts,” said Lawton. “So we offer courses to interest everyone, from designing a website or video game to basic programs like learning how to use Facebook on a smart phone.”

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Diversity
Alla Mysko-Henke, manager of Red Deer Public Library’s Adult Literacy Program, recently accepted Canada’s Premiers Council of the Federation Literacy Award. The Award celebrates outstanding achievement, innovative practice and excellence in literacy. The Adult Literacy program, housed at the Dawe Branch, has been operating for 30 years and presently has 360 clients and 215 tutors. Alla accepted the medallion and certificate at the awards ceremony held in Edmonton, September 27, 2018, but gives all the credit for the program’s success to its volunteers. “This award is a recognition of the passion and dedication of our staff and volunteers who make this program, and its achievements, possible. Their smiles and positive attitudes have been a great contribution to building a welcoming, diverse community in our library.”

Free cards, Free programs
Since June 2017, RDPL’s centennial year, library memberships have been free for all Red Deer residents, aligning with a goal of the library board to “make our information, programs, and services readily available to everyone in the community.” As of October 1, 2018, 21,115 Red Deerians have library cards, said Shelley Ross, CEO, Red Deer Public Library.

“People can borrow as many things as they have time to read, watch or listen to for free if you get them back on time,” Ross said, “Children don’t accumulate overdue fees because we know parents love reading the same picture book over and over for weeks on end,” she joked. “Public libraries are a public good”, Ross continued. “Red Deerians are proud of their library and all its programs and activities, and even though some may be too busy to visit, there’s a sense of pride in knowing what their local library is up to! We hope you’ll visit one of RDPL’s three branches and help us celebrate Canadian Library Month.”

*Canadian Library Week information taken from: https://librarianship.ca/features/canadian-library-month/