A new group of Grande Prairie Public Library supporters is looking for residents across the municipality and region to help champion their cause.
The Champions of the Grande Prairie Public Library Society, a not-for-profit aiming to raise money, and awareness for programs and services available at the facility, will be holding its first membership drive on January 15th.
President Mark Evans says while the library gets its primary funding from the City of Grande Prairie, the job of the champions is to push for more advocacy and to ensure the library is adequately funded going forward.
“Libraries are essential to communities, they help build communities, help the economy grow, it’s a place people can go get knowledge and information to better their lives,” he adds.
Evans adds while they’re not the first group to try and bolster the funding heading to the library, it has been a number of years since a concentrated effort has been put forward. He says he hopes to build on the successes of those who have attempted similar initiatives in the past.
“There have been various iterations of groups similar to this for the library who have really made big things happen in the past, so I’m pretty confident we will get a lot of interest, and people will come out and find new and innovative ways to support the library.”
The membership drive will take place on January 15th from 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. at the Grande Prairie Public Library.