Chestermere residents will be able to receive their library cards free of charge this year, after City council approved waiving the facility's membership fee in 2021.
“The library initially approached council during the budget process, asking if we would consider supporting that item,” said Chestermere mayor Marshall Chalmers.
According to a post on Chestermere’s Facebook page, Chestermere Public Library (CPL) membership usually costs a family $27 per year or $7 for seniors over 65.
On Nov. 17, 2020, Chestermere City council chose to cover the costs of the library’s revenue from memberships and offer complimentary cards to all residents as a show of support to people impacted financially by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We recognize it has been a tough year,” Chalmers said. “Many in our community are eager to find ways to bring some kind of relief. Providing the library cards is just one more way that we are working to help residents impacted by the pandemic. It’s not huge to an individual, but it’s still something.”
Chalmers said council has tried to be “community-grounded” as the municipality continues to weather the impact of the pandemic.
“It’s about council representing their community, trying to make it the best we can for them in trying times,” he said.
According to the City, CPL membership allows residents to access more than three million items through the library’s network. The library’s inventory includes books, audiobooks, magazines, e-books and online resources, as well as access to computers, office support and library programs.
“It really is all-encompassing, and it can mean so much to people,” Chalmers said. “The library is much more than books now. It’s a gathering place. We have such cultural diversity here and it is a safe place for people to come.”
Chalmers said the library cards will continue to be a source of revenue for the library, but will come through the City’s taxpayers, instead of the individuals having to pay out of pocket. According to a presentation made to council, library revenue in 2020 was more than $665,000 after grants, funding from the City of Chestermere, provincial money and other sources.
Not all of the reception to council's decision has been positive. A letter to the editor submitted to the Chestermere Anchor newspaper from Pete Tindall, a former member of the library board, said anyone in financial distress could always get a free library card.
“Note that many people have suffered zero loss of income during the current pandemic thus don’t need this ‘gift’,” he said. “Note also that in Chestermere’s opinion, it is now appropriate to dump the entire cost of running the library onto the taxpayers, some of whom may not be interested or capable of availing themselves of the library’s services.”
In response, Chalmers said everyone has the right to their opinion, adding it was an item council deliberated on and made a conscious decision to provide the funding.
“I have seen the negative comment, but I can say I get a lot of email and phone calls that share a positive reception to the news,” he said. “People understand and see what we are trying to do.”
Jordan Stricker, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @Jay_Strickz
