Bonnyville Municipal Library celebrates 60 years

A birthday celebration for one of the key lifelines of community was the reason why a couple dozen gathered on Thursday morning.

The Bonnyville Municipal Library is celebrating 60 years of being there in the community — to offer reading materials, valuable access to the internet, and the programming that keeps people engaged.

Library manager Nicole Labrie thanked everyone for helping them achieve the milestone.

“Sixty years ago the first library was put together by the Town and the M.D. with the goal of providing free books and resources to support the community,” said Labrie.

“I wonder if they could’ve imagined the library as it is today. It’s not just books now. It’s free digital resources, it’s computers, it’s steam kits. It’s an all access pass to the world.”

The morning was spent with refreshments and good cheer, as well as layouts of other milestones the library has achieved over the years.

Bonnyville Pontiacs’ Clarence Beltz and Jack McAra read No T-Rexs in the Library to the group.

Board chair Joanne Cooper explained that the library is a place for all ages and all abilities to be able to congregate, make connections, and spent time.

“What I love is that the library has adult programming, where community members can be each other. As adults, you have your work life and your errands, or whatever, but unless you have children in school, it is really hard to meet other adults. But the library has programs and special events, people can connect with other like minded people,” she said.

Currently, the library is doing its DVD sale, and soon enough it’ll be time for another book sale.

Indigenous people also have more increased access to libraries free of charge, because of the parameters loosening so they can use the library just as anyone else would.

Library cards remain free and allow you to access the vast array of features it has to offer.

Cooper underlined this importance. By having a library card, it keeps provincial dollars flowing into these key services.

“Every library card shows support in your community.”