The Grand Forks Public Library Association has a few new faces on its board now that last week’s elections are complete.
The new members are Martin Domeij and Stephanie Tolias, while David Janzen and Ted Invictus were re-elected at the March 2 annual general meeting.
Other news from the library was the release of the 2010 annual report, which showed that library use had soared from 2009 in all areas from circulation to reference questions asked.
The total visitors rose to 130,146 in 2010, from 101,569 in 2009, and database usage quadrupled.
Library association president Dave Watts attributes some of the growth to disruption of service that occurred in 2009, but says a lot of it is to do with the staff being helpful and courteous.
Watts also mentioned that since the library in Grand Forks will have been around for 70 years in 2015, he hopes that they can plan a celebration.
“Our current library space opened in 1984 and has served us well,” Watts said. “At our 70th birthday celebration we have a vision to make an addition to our current space.”
He says that this can be done with the support of the board, library patrons and the community as a whole, and would probably tie in to the strategic plan that would expire in 2015.
The library will also be doing a membership drive this year.
The subject of a library drop-off and delivery in Christina Lake briefly came up with some members of the library association, with the plan being to implement a service that runs every week. Area C currently pays around 40 per cent of the library budget or $117,722 of the $292,483. Residents of Area C currently have to drive to Grand Forks to use the services.
The library is working with Area C Director Grace McGregor on the project.