Library receives award for ‘Expanding Our World’ series

Rob Vogt Local Press Writer
The Claresholm Public Library has received an award from the Chinook Arch Regional Library System for its “Expanding Our World” series. The library received a Reward for Excellence And Distinction (READ) at the Southern Alberta Library Conference from March 1 to 3 in Lethbridge. The award was for the Claresholm Public Library’s “Expanding Our World” series which began in February of 2017 under the original title of the “Living Truth”. According to information from the library, “Expanding Our World” was based on the “Human Library” or “Living Library” where patrons at larger libraries could “check out” a person to talk to them oneon-one to better understand them and the communities they come from. However, because this concept would likely not suit a town as small as Claresholm, retired library manager Kathy Davies had the idea of having an open event where a speaker from one particular community would come and do a presentation followed by a question-and-answer session anyone could attend. Barb Kemery, the library’s program coordinator, organized the majority of these events. “A lot of the credit for the success of the program, and hence the award, belongs to her,” said Jay Sawatzky, library manager. Events in the series have included David Yates on Yemen; Jason Weasel Bear on the Piikani Nation; Gord Tait on the Hutterian Brethren; Khalid Mohammed on Islam; Jade Soetaert on laughing yoga; Sally Morton on chickens in your backyard; and Alex Meic on smudging. This is the fifth READ award the Claresholm Public Library has received.
The previous awards were:
• 2016, for Library Quest: Passport to services;
• 2015, Claresholm women’s conference and community needs assessment for planning of plan of service;
• 2014, Claresholm Chronicles;
• 2011, a community partnership award.