Airdrie Public Library has just what you might expect – a lot of books. Now a new campaign is showing that the library also has resources you may not expect, including CDs, DVDs, Internet access, magazines, newspapers, and programs.
"We’re working hard to meet the diverse needs of the community," says Janine Jevne, Library Director. "We know that people count on us for a range of services, from high-speed Internet access to learning English. Our library is a place that the community increasingly depends on for essential resources."
To highlight this reality, Airdrie Public Library has joined other public libraries across the province to launch Books and beyond -- a campaign designed to show how libraries are used by Albertans in their everyday lives (www.booksandbeyond.ca).
"Books and beyond is a unique campaign that breaks down stereotypes and shows that people use libraries in incredibly diverse ways," says Jevne. "The fact is that libraries truly are the centre of most communities – and provide resources and services that people really care about."
While the Books and beyond ads come with an ironic twist, the campaign highlights some serious numbers. Last year:
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- There were over 17 million visits to Alberta public libraries
- Over one million Albertans took part in one of over 50,000 public library programs across the province.
- Albertans borrowed over 33 million items from public libraries alone.
- There were over 1.2 million public library cardholders in Alberta – about 40 per cent of the population.
- Albertans asked nearly 4.5 million reference questions at public libraries.
"Alberta’s libraries are also connected, giving everyone in our community access to over 30 million items, including popular magazines, journals and newspapers," says Jevne.
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