CARSTAIRS - The Carstairs Public Library has recently welcomed a new library manager, Megan Ginther.
Ginther came to Mountain View County from Edmonton where she worked in the Edmonton Public Library systems. She started on Aug. 6, replacing Joanne Merrick, who has retired.
Ginther told the Gazette she is really enjoying the small-town life in the short time she's been at the Carstairs library.
"I'm loving it," said Ginther. "Everyone has been so welcoming and very understanding while I've been learning and figuring out everything. I'm glad to get out of the big city."
Ginther worked the last seven years as a library assistant with the Edmonton Public Library. In her last position with the Edmonton Public Library, she worked with the mobile literacy van.
"I loved it," she said. "It was a lot of fun. Every day we were out in the community setting up libraries for places in Edmonton that don't have easy access to the library. They might not be able to just walk down and go there. We would go to them."
Before working with the literacy van, which lasted about five years, Ginther worked at the Old Strathcona library branch in Edmonton.
While working in Edmonton, Ginther completed her master's degree in library management and information science.
"I did it through San Jose State University on evenings and weekends," she said. "They have an excellent online community. I did everything through teleconferencing or online rooms."
Ginther got her bachelor's degree in English and film studies from the University of Alberta in Edmonton. She also has a bachelor of education from the University of Regina.
"I like to learn," she laughed.
Ginther grew up in the Fort Saskatchewan area, just outside of Edmonton.
"My family has a farm out there," she said. "I went to school K to 12 in Fort Saskatchewan. Same school my dad went to."
After getting her master's in library studies, Ginther was looking to become a library manager.
"I was looking for a chance to put my master's to work," she said. "I also really wanted to get back to a small town. The library I grew up with was the bookmobile out of Sherwood Park"
Ginther said that libraries are an essential part of the community.
"I think libraries are really important to small towns," she said. "They're a centre for learning as well as entertainment and community-building. Getting to do a little bit of everything excited me."
Ginther said it's been a bit of a learning curve stepping up to manager but she says it's going well.
"It's been a challenge to get caught up real fast but I feel like I'm settling in well," she said. "I really am adoring the town here and the feel of the community. The community feel here is lovely. People are really friendly and welcoming. You know your neighbours."
Ginther said it's a lot different than Edmonton where getting to know people is a struggle.
"It's not like you walk by and go to the bank and they remember your name," she said. "Here they do. I think that's a real strength. I'm excited to be a part of that."
Ginther said that membership at the Carstair Public Library is growing as the town is growing. She said they have plenty of programs going on at the library as summer winds down.
"It's been busy since I've been here," she said. "We just finished our summer reading club, which had about 400 kids during the time of the program. We also had our parenting fair (on Aug. 27). We had our blind date with a book program for adults, where people pick up a book in a bag."
Other programs running at the library are the Discover with Me and Story Time for kids on Tuesday evenings and Friday mornings and a needle crafters group that meets Thursday afternoons.