Although the pandemic has forced all libraries to close, that hasn’t stopped Palliser Regional Library (PRL) from offering a digital academy with courses from computer lessons to technology usage to online databases.
Normally most libraries within the system would offer in-person courses to teach users how to use programs or technology, but that’s not possible during this time. Instead, the organization has developed a platform that provides shorter, always-available, bite-sized online courses, according to PRL’s 2019 annual general meeting (AGM) report.
Since an actual meeting was impossible due to the pandemic, the organization posted its annual general meeting documents and financial reports to its website and then asked members to fill out a survey to accept the reports and proposed nominations for chair and executive committee.
2020 update
Palliser Regional Library has organized its digital academy into several categories:
- social media:
- reading services, such as Hoopla, PressReader, Creativebug, Libby, TumbleBook, and AncestryLibrary;
- computer courses, such as internet basics, Microsoft Office, Google Docs, and using Windows 10; and
- online databases, such as Auto Repair Source, Academic OneFile, Britannica Online, Kids’ Infobits and duoLingo.
PRL also plans to launch small online courses that cover iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets, shopping, and email. These courses proved popular in 2019, the AGM report explained, as 79 in-person events were held throughout the region to teach people how to use these tools. There were 328 students from all demographics who took the courses, with the oldest participant being 94 years old.
“The courses are proving to be very successful and our instructor, Brianna Miller, is getting glowing reviews (from) all who have taken the courses,” the report continued, “and we are getting requests for repeats of the courses in every town.”
Visit www.palliserlibrary.ca for these online courses.
2019 activities
PRL did not increase its rural library levy last year since its agricultural communities were facing hardships in seeding and harvesting. The provincial government provided a one-time increase in grant funding that enabled Palliser to cover an hours shortfall of $1,281 to ensure its libraries could remain open longer.
Branch librarians were given time to watch a free virtual conference in February 2019 entitled Big Talk for Small Libraries (Small Libraries Doing Big Things). There were 12 sessions on topics such as teaching iPad use, marketing, building new services from scratch, and making space for 3D printers and maker spaces.
Palliser participated in a similar professional development session this past February.
Also, Palliser hosted a two-day workshop last June where the Saskatchewan Health Authority ran a certification course on Mental Health First Aid.
Programming
The 2019 TD Summer Reading Club focused on the natural world, such as growing seeds and extreme weather, the report explained. Every branch participated, with 256 programs run across the region and 5,102 people — children and adults — attending. Moose Jaw also held 12 teen programs with 146 teens attending.
Palliser received $11,173 to enhance its Aboriginal services, while it received $1,400 to host Aboriginal Storytelling Month. Author Kim Soo Goodtrack told stories to listeners at eight branches, while PRL worked with the Aboriginal and Metis groups on Aboriginal events.
Network Services and the Ministry of Education purchased new internet routers for all libraries in the province. Palliser’s technician installed the new routers, while she also installed 35 new, larger monitors for the staff and public stations and 19 new public access machines.
By the numbers
Palliser Regional Library is composed of 20 branches throughout west-central Saskatchewan. Its AGM report provided data from 2019 about the services it provided, circulation numbers, loans, users, collections and miscellaneous information.
Services provided
- branches were open for 20,426 hours;
- 20,268 books, CDs and DVDs were added;
- 19,668 people attended 1,810 rural programs;
- 8,873 people attended 540 programs in Moose Jaw; and
- volunteers gave 3,791 hours to prepare and deliver programs.
Circulation
- total circulation was 597,419 items, which was composed of digital and physical materials
- 352,941 items were circulated and renewed at a community branch in PRL
- 2,790 books were checked out for book clubs
- 15,258 Hoopla sessions were streamed
- rural and Moose Jaw users conducted 4,979 searches on Ancestry.com during a total of 247 online sessions
- 279 book club kits were circulated
- 21,980 patrons used public internet stations
- the reference and general information desk answered 74,222 questions
User statistics
There were 1,827 new users who registered for library cards last year, bringing the total number of cardholders in the region to 17,599, or 31.72 per cent of the population, the report said. This is an increase from last year when 17,302 people had library cards.
The overall collection size decreased to 302,086 materials last year compared to 306,373 in 2018.
Finances
PRL had revenues of $2.59 million and expenses of $2.54 million, leaving a surplus of $51,145. In comparison, the organization had a deficit of $10,303 in 2018.
More information about Palliser Regional Library can be found at www.palliserlibrary.com
