Northern Lights Library System is delivering significant value to the Town of St. Paul, according to a presentation made at the February 24 council meeting.

Executive Director James MacDonald addressed council, outlining what local membership in the regional system means for residents.

“We’re one of seven regional library systems in the province. We cover northeast Alberta,” MacDonald explained. “Each municipality joins together to provide services that you couldn’t otherwise afford on a per-community basis.”

Strong Usage Numbers in 2025

In 2025 alone, residents borrowed more than 21,000 physical books and 7,000 digital titles.

Mayor Glenn Andersen said increasing awareness of services remains key.

“One of the biggest challenges is helping people understand what’s available to them.”

The town library purchased 612 books, saving approximately $4,400 thanks to Northern Lights’ bulk buying power.

If the town had attempted to purchase all the materials its residents used independently, MacDonald said the cost would have exceeded $1 million.

“For every dollar you’re investing in Northern Lights, you’re getting $42.78 back,” he told council. “If you play the stock market, I’d like a return on my investment like that.”

The Town of St. Paul contributed approximately $33,095 to the regional system in 2025.

New Digital Services Added

MacDonald highlighted several new digital resources added in 2025, including:

• The Athletic – digital sports journalism access

• Transparent Language Online – a Duolingo-style language learning platform

• OverDrive simultaneous-use collections for romance, mystery and comics

• Kanopy – a streaming service featuring documentaries, films and BBC series

“Kanopy is like Netflix, but focused on documentaries and educational content,” MacDonald said. “It’s unlimited usage, simultaneous streaming.”

Residents can now also sign up for a library card online, gaining temporary digital access before verifying identity in person.

Growing Indigenous Representation

Northern Lights recently welcomed a new library board in Kehewin Settlement, bringing the total number of Indigenous communities within the system to five.

“We’re very excited about that,” MacDonald said, noting the importance of locally governed library boards.

Increasing Awareness

Council members discussed the need to better promote available services, particularly to newcomers and non-English speakers.

One councillor suggested including library information in welcome packages distributed through community agencies.

“One of the biggest challenges we have is helping people understand what’s available to them,” MacDonald acknowledged. “There’s a ton of content available.”

Council received the report as information.