WESTLOCK – The Westlock Intermunicipal Library Board is looking to fill two vacancies as they begin work on a new strategic plan of service for 2024-2028.
Westlock Library director Lisa Old said the board’s current plan of service, 2019-2023 expires at the end this year with work on the new five-year plan underway.
“That is going to be our big focus for this coming year. We’re going to be doing a needs- assessment within the community, we’ll be doing surveys, not just within Westlock but also in Jarvie and Fawcett and within the county itself,” said Old. “We’ll be gathering all the information to find out what our community needs are and how we can fulfill them within our 16 service responses.”
Each library in Alberta has several service responses they are responsible for, she noted, adding the Westlock Library incorporates them into the plan of service under four headings that expand to include goals and objectives.
“The board, myself, and the staff, we’re going to have meetings, invite the community to come to a needs assessment meeting so that we can hear from them and what they think our priorities should be. Then we’re going to put together a plan based on that with objectives,” explained Old.
Over the next several months, the library will hold public meetings, complete surveys, and consider feedback and information from the needs assessment, in deciding what the next list of service responses will be, areas that in light of the pandemic could change.
“(COVID-19) has definitely changed some of our priorities. There are going to be some changes based on the pandemic, but our main goals will be the same,” she said, noting the mission, vision and values are not expected to change, but specific goals for the next five years will.
Old noted her role as advisor to the board, who also reviews and approves, while the library board itself is responsible for approving the annual budget, any financial decisions, and policies as well.
“I provide a director’s report of all goings on of all three libraries in Westlock, Jarvie and Fawcett and I provide financial reports to keep everybody appraised of what’s going on,” she said, noting the board is funded by both the Town of Westlock and Westlock County with the Village of Clyde also contributing to library funding.
The board has four county members and five town members as required by the intermunicipal agreement, she noted, which could include a member from the Village of Clyde. The three current library service points include the Westlock Library, the Jarvie Library, and the M. Alice Frose Library in Fawcett — the latter two serve the northern communities and are open seven hours a week.
The current board executive, elected at the annual meeting in November 2022, includes chairperson Kathy Kieser representing the county, vice-chair Thressa Zilinksi also from the county, treasurer and town councillor Abby Keyes representing the Town of Westlock and acting secretary Jeanne Roska, also from the town. Board members at large include Westlock County reeve Christine Wiese, member Deborah Forbes representing the town and Donna Kinley, representing the county.
Old said the library board meets once a month and potential members do not need to have any board experience, adding it’s a great learning opportunity and a chance for residents to contribute to their local community.
“The more involvement we have, the better-rounded view we have of what our community needs,” said Old.
Anyone interested in sitting as a library board member can contact Old and fill out an application by emailing her at [email protected] or [email protected].
