The Westlock Intermunicipal Library Board was presented with a $12,086 provincial grant through the Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) on Wednesday to complete renovations to the M. Alice Frose Library in Fawcett.
Librarian Doug Whistance-Smith said they submitted an application for a CFEP grant back in June to conduct renovations at the library, which is located in W.R. Frose School.
He noted they had already completed renovations at the library in Jarvie earlier this year as well.
As both the Jarvie and Fawcett libraries are located in schools, Whistance-Smith said the libraries sometimes don’t get as much attention as they should for being public facilities.
“To bring them up to a standard where it’s a comfortable warm environment to come into — not just for students but for the entire community — that needed to be addressed,” he said. “That’s where these two grants come into play.”
Bert Seatter, library board member and Westlock County councillor for Jarvie and Fawcett, said they collaborated with the Pembina Hills school division on the project, with the division completing the renovations in advance of the funding.
Whistance-Smith noted that, in order to qualify for the grant, they had to provide matching funds.
“The library board had to get together and co-ordinate with the school division to come up with money to put into the project,” he said.
In essence, the total amount of money spent on these renovations was just over $24,000.
Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock MLA Maureen Kubinec presented the cheque to Whistance-Smith and Seatter on Wednesday afternoon and read a letter from Alberta Minister of Culture Heather Klimchuk.
“ ‘The Westlock Intermunicipal Library is to be commended on its hard work in connection with this project,’” she said.
“ ‘It will have a positive effect on the quality of life in our community.’”
Whistance-Smith also said it was good to have this show of support from the provincial government.
Kubinec has been handing out a number of CFEP grants within the Westlock area in recent weeks, including a $12,500 grant that went to the Westlock Legion.
