Cochranites looking to support their local library and pick up some great deals on books will be able to do both at the Friends of the Cochrane Public Library Society’s Book Sale on April 22 and 23 at the RancheHouse.
“We are hoping to raise $10,000 to assist the library in purchasing new computers,” said society chair Chantal Barber.
She added that libraries are often underfunded, and Cochrane’s library is not exempt from that challenge.
“Right now, the public technology was due to be replaced in 2021 and there was no funding for it, so they’ve asked us if we can fund raise specifically for that,” she said.
Barber mentioned the upcoming program aimed at attracting teens to the library as an example of the dire need for not only a sufficient number of computers, but to keep the public facility’s technology up-to-date as well.
And it’s not just special programs that rely on the computers, she noted.
“They’re used constantly, every day. People use them to build their resumes, apply for jobs, take courses – everything,” Barber said.
Barber said people who are not necessarily as “computer-savvy” as others may also have a harder time than necessary navigating the current equipment, which may have speed and accessibility issues.
Cochrane’s library provides a wider variety of goods and services than many people may know about or expect, according to Barber.
As any frequent users of the facility know, there’s a lot more to the Cochrane library than just books.
“Maybe a quarter of our is portfolio is books, a quarter might be programming and engagement, another quarter community growth and development, another quarter eResources,” she said.
Barber also had high praise for the variety of non-technical resources available at the local library, which is much broader and comprehensive than what’s offered at libraries she’s familiar with in her home town in another province that has a population of a million residents.
Borrowers can check out everything from iPads and Chromebooks to gardening tools, compressors, and snowshoes.
“They make it a really low barrier for everyone,” Barber said. “You can check out a complete camping set-up, so all you have to worry about is your $20 camping fee for your family instead of buying a tent, sleeping bags and stoves and all of that.”
There will be no price tags on books at the upcoming sale, but shoppers will be asked to make a donation of their choosing. Monetary donations without purchases will also be accepted.
Barber said there’s no way to summarize the categories of offerings at the sale.
“Absolutely everything – we have a massive storage locker that’s quite full,” she bragged.
The sale takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Anyone interested in volunteering at the weekend sale can email [email protected].
