The Williams Lake branch of the Cariboo Regional District Library network always has plenty of new material for readers to get their hands on and the number of visitors to the library continues to be on the rise.
“This past August 780 new titles were put on the shelves in our three main branches (WL, 100 Mile, Quesnel) and in June we had 12,460 people visit our Williams Lake branch,” said Librarian Caroline Derksen, now in her fourth year at the library. This past year 725 new patrons registered for library cards.
Derkson said the dynamic of libraries are changing due to factors such as the shifting of technology.
“It’s unique because less books are being signed out but more people are coming through our doors,” said Derksen.
As her tenure as librarian, Derksen said it has been important that they embrace new technology, although she admits she still prefers the feel off a good old-fashioned book in her hands.
“We are now offering downloadable books through our provincial program and with your library card you can go to our website and download any book onto your iPhone or other device,” said Derksen.
Also available on the library website www.cln.bc.ca users can click the databases link under the resource menu and have remote access to 14 popular databases including Consumer Reports, National Geographic, Tumblebooks (e-books for kids), and Canadian Newsstand which features access to 300 newspapers.
“We can get access to most books and people forget that we can borrow from any library in our network as long as the book is not too obscure, and it usually only takes about a week or two,” said Derksen.
The library has plenty of exciting events happening this fall including book launches and a chess tournament.
This Saturday at 10:30 a.m. first-time author Willie Sellars and debut illustrator Kevin Easthope will be having their book launch for Dipnetting With Dad at the library. Come by a get your signed copy.
The library does its best to promote local authors and has more than 300 titles written locally in its Cariboo Collection.
The library has another upcoming book launch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. On Wednesday, Oct. 29 featuring Chris Czajkowski’s new book, And the River Still Sings: A Wilderness Dweller’s Journey.
The library will also be hosting the Lake City Chess Open on Saturday, Oct. 18. It will be a six-round Swiss WL Club-rated tournament with more than $500 in cash and prizes from sponsors. People of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to play with registration from 9-9:30 a.m.
Local 11-year-old chess phenom Kai Richardson had the idea to host a tournament.
“Kai and some of the regulars play chess at the library every Tuesday, and Kai brought up the idea for a tournament and his dad is doing the organizing,” said Derksen.
There is also an all ages story time drop-in program bi-weekly at the library which caters primarily for children up to age five. Bring your child to join the group from 10:30 -11:15 a.m. On Wednesdays and Fridays visit to improve literacy skills with stories, puppets, singing, silly songs, rhymes, interactive books, themed story days. Each session includes a craft and parents are asked to stay if the child is under three.
Pam Hedley-Smith plans to introduce a new 2015 line-up for Armchair Travels, a program where local people present their adventures from around the world. People hoping to present can contact Pam. The library also have National Film Board screenings about once a month, with the next showing titled Out of Sight, Out of Mind coming soon.
There is a teen drop session every Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. Also being offered two days per month is training on the ancestry database to learn your family history. The library also has a facebook page listed under Williams Lake Library where you can like it to receive updates on new book titles, upcoming events and more.