Rocky View County (RVC) council voted June 29 to continue working with the Langdon Library Society (LLS) to find a suitable new home for the hamlet’s future library.
“RVC has identified library services as a need in the hamlet of Langdon,” said Dimitri Dimopoulos, who works with recreation, parks, community and support for the County, and presented the item to council at their June 29 meeting. “This has been identified as a proposed amenity in the Recreation and Parks Master Plan as a future component of the Langdon Recreation Centre.”
According to council’s agenda report for the meeting, while long-term library services will be addressed through the development of the Langdon Recreation Centre in the coming years, County administration assessed a variety of scenarios to provide interim library services to the hamlet of Langdon.
The council item comes after the LLS was gifted a full library from the dissolved municipality of Cereal. According to LLS chairperson Debra Carrobourg, the library is valued at approximately $150,000. It contains roughly 4,000 items, including shelves, desks, furniture, books, cabinets, and computers.
While a site for the gifted library has been chosen, four options were presented during the meeting. Options include constructing a modular structure or portable trailers, commercial space, and the main option, which has been deemed LLS’s preferred location in an RVC municipal building.
“[The LLS is] seeking to convert the administrative space currently used by Fire Services,” Dimopoulos said. “However, there are a number of concerns that have been identified in moving forward with this facility.”
Dimopoulos’ presentation said there is a misconception the building will be vacant once Fire Services relocates, adding other County departments have been using and will still utilize the site. Additionally, he said the estimated capital cost provided for the interior space to be improved and brought up to code as a public space to house a library is approximately $650,000.
“Lastly, but of most significant concern, is with regard to safety,” he said. “Using this facility for public use while it is actively used as a grader shed, with heavy equipment consistently entering and exiting the area, is not recommended.”
The County also identified an alternative approach – utilizing library lending lockers. The system has seen success in Bragg Creek since opening in that community earlier in the year.
“While this model does not achieve the society’s vision, as a transitional solution, it would have been a cost-effective, sustainable, and flexible way to meet the evolving needs without the expenses associated with a brick-and-mortar facility,” Dimopoulos said.
While no official decision was made on a location on June 29, council unanimously voted to direct administration to continue working with the LLS and facilitate a partnership to develop a strategy for funding and identifying a new indoor multi-purpose community space to house the library.
Debra Carrobourg, chairperson of the LLS later said while it is great to be working with administration, it is paramount the society finds a suitable location for the library.
“[The County] hasn't provided a location for us, therefore we are still in question whether or not we can accept the library donation from Cereal,” she said. “There are still a lot of questions.”
According to Carrobourg, with Cereal becoming officially dissolved as a municipality, the former village's library has officially closed. She said time continues to be a factor, and whether or not the LLS can accept the donation has always been contingent on the society having a physical space to put all of the items.
“With the way it was presented to council, we still don't know if we can accept or decline this donation to us,” she said. “We are working with Marigold Library System to see if there are ways we can store portions of the collection in the meantime.”
While council and administration have been very receptive to the idea of a proposed library, Carrobourg said the LLS has hit a roadblock in terms of fundraising. For many of the grants the society plans to apply for, letters of support are needed from the County.
She also said it is important to have a location secured for fundraising purposes.
“We are trying to find out more about the grants we can apply for,” she said.
Additionally, Carrobourg said there is currently a GoFundMe campaign in place, along with a call to the public for people who may be able to help provide a temporary location for the library resources.
“If they have some ATCO trailers they can donate, or any portable structures, it would be wonderful,” she said.
The GoFundMe has raised $725 of a $75,000 goal to date. To donate and find out more about the project, visit bit.ly/3hnXAtU
Jordan Stricker, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @Jay_Strickz
