Last year was a year of transition for the Castlegar & District Public Library.
The library’s board held its annual general meeting on Wednesday and Katrina Vermette, board chair, addressed the changes to the library’s staff and board in 2017.
“In January we welcomed Kimberly [Partanen] as our new library director and in March the library board welcomed four new board members Lauren [Grace], Carey [Rudisill], Jerry [Vandenbilche] and Jayme [Jones], and with that it changed both the dynamic and demographics of our board, which we are very appreciative of to your for,” said Vermette.
In her director’s report, Partanen also talked about some of the new programming the library was able to offer this year, including “Your Art in the Library.”
“Where people in our community can share their desire for art with others in the community,” explained Partanen.
The library also received funding from the Kootenay Library Federation to purchase STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art and Math] related items.
“Our library was able to purchase a range of interesting items from science kits and Lego to circuit building activities, math games and tiny robots,” said Partanen.
There was also a moment during the meeting to remember the library’s longest-serving volunteer, Gladys Manahan, who passed away on Feb. 18.
“Gladys was the longest-serving volunteer in the history of our library,” said Vermette. “She started volunteering here in 1954 and stayed for 60 years.”
The board also held elections and reviewed its slate of officers for 2018.
Jackie Letkeman resigned from the library board, Jill Seaborn was re-elected and Denise Maier and Camille Roberts were both reappointed to the board.
Arry Dhillon is still the appointed board member for the City of Castlegar and a new board member needs to be appointed on behalf of Area I.
“We have one vacancy for Area I, which is under Andy Davidoff, and he was going to join us this evening with some names, but he wasn’t able to join us so we will be touching base with him later,” said Partanen.
Most of the other board members are still continuing a two-year term: Katrina Vermette, Gordon Turner, Lauren Grace, Carey Rudisill, Jerry Vandenbilche and Jayne Jones.
Castlegar & District Public Library stats for 2017
Library programs — 376
Library program — 3,567
Reference questions answered — 2,428
In person library visits — 83,092 people
Public computer sessions — 14,960
Online resources accessed — 13,546 times
Total items circulated — 122,247
Library memberships — 9,887 people
New library members — 576
