Lethbridge Public Library

4 What a Difference a Year Makes Allan Quinton, Board Chair year does not seem like a lot of time, and throughout 2018 a lot has happened at the Lethbridge Public Library. The most noticeable change is that the renovations to the Main Branch have been completed, and we were able to open the renovated space to the public in July. Construction may have taken a bit longer than we expected, but the new space is beautiful and was well worth the wait. An expanded computer area with designated staff provides better access to our public computers. Teens now have their own designated area, and fiction and non-fiction collections have been relocated into easier to access locations. A designated Indigenous area was also developed, and we were proud for it to receive a Blackfoot name, Piitoyiss, which means Eagles' Nest. Library staff are never idle, and 2018 was no exception, as staff developed new programs and events for customers to enjoy. We received a number of awards over the year for our programming, including the 2018 Celebrate Downtown award for Downtown Event of the Year from the Heart of Our City for our The Word On The Street festival we hold each year in September. A special arrangement also came to pass as the Community LINKS desk opened in our Main Branch. This has been very successful in connecting our customers to governmental departments and/or just providing personal assistance and guidance. 2018 has been a busy year in working to achieve the Library's goal of become a community hub, connecting many people to their appropriate needs and providing what assistance we can to all members of our community. We have accomplished all of this and more in just the past year, and as we move into 2019 we look forward to celebrating our 100 th Anniversary, with a number of activities planned throughout the year. One of the first is an exhibit at the Galt Museum & Archives entitled "Connecting Community: 100 Years of the Lethbridge Public Library." The exhibit chronicles the growth and development of the Library from two rooms located in the YMCA into the welcoming and inclusive space that it is today. We welcome you to join us during this celebratory year and check out what the Library has to offer you. In celebration of our 100 th Anniversary there is no fee for Library cards this year, and we have so much to offer at all three of our locations: books, DVDs, games, programs, language classes, and even event passes. Visit us and see how the Lethbridge Public Library has been serving our community and can serve you and your family. We are excited for our centennial year, and proud of what has been accomplished in 2018. We also look forward to the next 100 years, but will take it one year at a time, because we have seen what a difference a year can make.

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