Removing barriers to make literature accessible to everyone in the community as much as possible is among the Sundre Municipal Library's primary objectives.
"That doesn't mean just being physically able to reach the facility," said manager Jamie Syer.
Efforts to bring the municipal library out of its building and into the community is always a major consideration, he said.
So when Syer heard the new Mountain View Seniors' Housing supportive living centre had built into it a room specifically for a library, he knew it would be "a natural fit" and so decided to offer a hand.
"They were delighted to have someone offer help," he told the Round Up.
"At that point, we decided to do whatever we can."
When word of the effort to establish a sort of satellite library at the new campus of care reached the Sundre Lions Club, as well as the Sundre High School's Leo Club, those local organizations each donated $500 for a cumulative total of $1,000 to spend on a core collection of large-print books, he said.
"They've been instrumental in supporting that project."
And along the way, the collection continued to grow courtesy of additional contributions from the community. Residents at the campus of care can sign out books for themselves and log when they borrow any items, he said.
"It's kind of a free will lending library," he said, describing the setup as "self-monitored."
But every two weeks, staff from the municipal library make their way to the lodge to deliver books specifically for residents with memberships, he said.
The supportive living centre opened last summer, and by the fall there was already a well-established collection of books for residents to peruse. To accommodate seniors with visual impairments, the library also has available three Digital Accessible Information System (Daisy) book readers, which provide "a means of creating digital talking books for people who wish to hear ó and navigate ó written material presented in an audible format," reads Daisy.org.
"We're happy to make them available," said Syer.
While positive steps forward certainly have been taken, the manager sees the satellite library as an ongoing work in progress.
"I don't feel this project is finished," he said.
Eventually, the library manager hopes to introduce audio books as well as access to the Internet.
"They should have an easy access computer in there."
Modern libraries are about much more than just books, and a computer would provide an additional outlet to offer seniors the opportunity to become more technologically inclined, he said.
But for the meantime, everything has been "working out well."
Based on statistics from the sign-out sheets, hundreds of books have been borrowed since the satellite library opened, which is indicative that the service has been well received, he said.
"It is a good connection and a good beginning for the future."
Among the numerous residents who regularly check out the collection is Margret Wright, who moved into the lodge last September. With a penchant for English mysteries and the occasional novel, she goes through about five books a month and always looks forward to seeing Sandra Huchala, the library assistant who visits to bring new reading options.
"It's wonderful," said Wright about the satellite library.
