Okotoks library patrons are invited to check out as many books as possible before the facility closes for a month.
The Okotoks Public Library is shutting its doors on Aug. 1 to prepare for its move to the new Arts and Learning Campus. Curbside pick-up will be available until Aug. 5, when the book-drop will also be closed down.
Sarah Gillie, library manager, said anyone with items checked out of the library can keep them through the month of August, until the new library opens up on Aug. 30.
“We are asking all of our patrons to hold on to their library items until we reopen in our new space,” said Gillie. “There will be no library items due during our closure.”
She said due dates for items will be extended to Sept. 13 to provide people with ample time to make returns.
“It gives people time to get their items back without incurring any overdue fines,” said Gillie.
The move is being facilitated by professional contractors, which will be taking the entire collection as well as some of the existing shelving and some equipment and furniture to the new space.
Some new shelving and furniture have been purchased and will need to be set up before the collection can start hitting the shelves again, she said.
Staff and patrons will both have a learning curve when they first return to the library, but Gillie said that’s par for the course this year.
“These past 16 months, we are well prepared now for change and we’re able to pivot quite quickly,” she said.
Fundraising efforts are still underway for furniture and equipment to finish outfitting the new library, she said. The library board has a goal of $250,000 and has raised about $86,000 so far.
Some new furniture has been purchased with the funds so far.
“We’re hoping to continue fundraising so that we can purchase additional items once we’re settled in our space and see what’s working for us and what our needs are,” said Gillie.
In the meantime, she said patrons are encouraged to help out with the move by taking out as many items as they can in the next week or two. Each card has a 100-item limit.
The fewer items that are on the shelves by Aug. 5, the smoother the move can be, she said.
Staff is looking forward to being in its new space.
“We’re very excited,” said Gillie. “It’s going to be such a wonderful experience for our patrons.”
