Town office staff could be looking for new digs by next summer if Rimbey Municipal Library takes over the building.
At its regular meeting Nov. 14 council unanimously agreed to a request by librarian Jean Keetch to include a letter of support for the library to apply for a matching federal government grant of $189,750. The funding would go toward the expansion and renovation of the library in anticipation of acquiring the town’s portion of the building.
Keetch emphasized the library is not asking council for a loan, simply a letter of assurance that it would come up with the matching funding, if necessary.
“We’re hopeful we will be able to raise the other half on our own,” she said. “We have a fundraising committee in place who is working very hard.”
Keetch would like to see the expanded library in place by the summer, but notes there are many variables in place.
Tony Goode, Rimbey’s CAO, said town administration is looking into moving into the upstairs of the Provincial Building, but is waiting to hear from the province regarding purchase or lease options.
According to the Alberta Public Library Standards formula, the Rimbey Municipal Library should be 6,500 square feet to support the town population and half the county’s population.
The library is currently between 2,300 and 2,800 square feet.