The Grande Prairie Public Library is still going strong after 80 years of operations in the city. Despite officially turning 80 back in June, library staff decided to have a party to celebrate on October 3rd.
Director Deb Cryderman says the fact that the library has been open for 80 years is very exciting.
“It just proves that libraries are a real community gathering space and the community values this space, their space, to be here to develop a community right here in the centre of our city.”
While there were no numbers dating back 80 years, over the last 10 years, Cryderman says more than five million people have come through the doors and the value of what they’ve borrowed during that time is almost $166 million.
Cryderman says she often hears people say things like they have met and developed friendships at the library and they feel like part of something when they’re there. She hopes it can continue to be that place for people for the next 80 years.
“We will always be the conduit between people and the information they need. We’ll always be supplying them information whether it’s in a book or whether it’s in a program or whether it’s in a material like a pair of snowshoes or an AED.”