Library Link: Lioness Club supports literacy at your library

When it comes to public libraries, strong support from the community is not only a gift, it is essential.

Because of the city’s demographics, Airdrie Public Library (APL) serves many young families, and the library welcomed a new resource for them last week, thanks in great part to the support of a local organization.

On Jan. 27, Family Literacy Day, APL celebrated our new Early Literacy Station, a special computer - with no Internet connection - just for children ages two to 10. The station offers all-in-one digital learning in both English and French, with more than 50 preloaded educational software programs spanning seven curricular areas.

These programs include My Amazing Human Body; History Explorer; MusiCan; Photo Kit Junior; Sammy’s Science House; Reader Rabbit; and World of Goo. Children will have a great time exploring and learning (no doubt their parents and caregivers will have a lot of fun, too).

This incredible resource would not have been possible without a generous donation from the Airdrie Lioness Club, along with federal CAP (Community Access Program) funding.

“We’re making use of every penny that we get and giving huge value back to the community,” said APL director Janine Jevne.

Of course, it’s not just families and children who appreciate the value of the library.

Patrons of all ages enjoy our services, which run the gamut from videoconferencing capabilities, meeting rooms and practice rooms for music to informational courses – from employment strategies to knitting to technology. For teens, Tween Zone (grades 4-6) and Teens After Hours (grades 7-9) are popular, as is our summer reading program for the younger set.

We also welcome a wide variety of local groups and clubs, which meet here on a regular basis. These clubs include chess, Scrabble, books, couponing, genealogy and knitting. And the library also provides a venue for local artists to display their work.

This is all available within the library, but APL is much more than just a building.

We have a strong presence and are readily accessible online; we keep in touch with our patrons through e-newsletters, Facebook and Twitter; and we have programs that go beyond our doors.

“A library isn’t just these four walls. We’re out there,” said Jevne.

For more information on what the library has to offer the community, visit www.airdriepubliclibrary.ca, call at 403-948-0600 or stop by.