As trusted centres of the community, libraries have filled an important role during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A major reason for this is that libraries are not just sombre edifices filled with books, but also strong community collaborators. Facilities such as Airdrie Public Library (APL) have financial supporters and non-financial partnerships. Vitreous Glass Inc., TD Bank, Kiwanis Airdrie Foothills and Rotary Club of Airdrie – to name just a few – provide important financial support for some of our programs, events, and materials.
Just as important are APL’s partnerships with groups or organizations that share a passion for literacy and learning. To these, we offer space, physical or virtual, collaborative projects, and a wider audience for shared objectives. An example is a strategic partnership APL has with Rocky View and Wheatland Employment Services (RVWES).
RVWES works with area residents and employers to achieve employment goals, and APL offers RVWES the opportunity to share this important community resource with our patrons, who may be looking for work or wanting to switch careers.
You might have signed up for their Job Hunting 101, Career Planning, or Resume Skills programs, all held in partnership with your library.
Another example is the partnership we have with North Rocky View Community Links and Rocky View Schools' Adult Learning for a popular preschool program called Travelling Tales and Tunes. Every week, one APL programmer and one Community Links programmer join over zoom for rhymes, stories, and songs with parents, caregivers and children aged five and younger
Each program participant receives an activity kit provided by Rocky View Schools Adult Learning.
APL also partners with the City of Airdrie, Volunteer Airdrie Society, Airdrie Pride Society, Viewpoints, Families Matter, Stepping Stones, Davis GMC, Scotiabank, Chestermere Therapy Dog Society, AHS, Credit Counselling Society, and many other organizations. We love connecting with people and groups in our community, as it increases resources, promotes creativity, and helps us reach common goals together.
For more information on library programs and services, visit airdriepubliclibrary.ca
