A variety of people and families benefit from access to a local library, its resources and its programs but few people seem interested in how it is able to pay for those resources and programs.
Funding from the Bentley Library Society is pivotal to the continued programming and updating of the local rural library.
If it were not for the fundraising arm of the library — the Bentley Library Society — not nearly as much could be offered at the Bentley municipal library.
In an attempt to help the public better understand how important a small volunteer group can be, this report explains only funds contributed through the efforts of volunteers who form the Bentley Library Society.
In the five years from 2008 to 2012 alone, the society disbursed more than $49,000 of lottery fund to help the library in various ways.
For a new photocopier and laminator the society put out almost $15,600.
Over $6,700 was spent buying books and $5,500 for periodicals and magazines.
Promotions, including an annual donation to the FCSS newsletter, cost $5,000. Another $4,200 was used for administrative costs. Aid for staff to attend annual conferences has amounted to almost $3,400 and programming received $2,500. DVDs were purchased to the tune of $1,150 and close to $1,000 was spent on furniture.
Besides helping the library, the society also doled out $4,000 worth of scholarships to help students entering post-secondary education.
In 2013 over $10,650 has been budgeted for the library and another $10,000 for 2014.
From finances raised from hosting its own events/projects, the society was also able to donate an additional $10,000, with another $4,000 budgeted for in 2013.
With a much-anticipated casino slated for 2015, volunteers will be needed to man that event when the time comes. In the meantime, fundraising ongoing efforts including operating the indoor arena concession during two of the farmer’s markets.
More members are needed to keep the society viable. It seems people think volunteer groups will just keep going along without their help — with someone else’s help.
To make sure the Bentley Library Society can remain active, additional volunteers are needed.
Many now serving on the board have done so for many years and some are ready to retire from it.
People who will be active, committed members and let their names stand for the executive and directors are needed.
To find out more about the Bentley Library Society and how you can volunteer and help make a difference to the library contact society secretary Val Anderson at (403)748-4021 or treasurer Arlene Tanasiuk at (403)748-4429.
Other major funding for the library comes from the town of Bentley and from Lacombe County. There is also funding from a provincial library operating grant, from Parkland Regional Library, and from money raised by the library themselves but a lot of the extras on the library’s wish list are provided due to the society’s help.