By Angela Hill

Library satellite branch opens

Jul 22, 2011 | 6:29 AM

There is a bit of the library available in the West Flat, with this week’s soft opening of a satellite of the Cuelenaere Public Library at the Bernice Sayese Community Centre.

“There are two wardrobes that we have books in and library equipment that we just expand out on to a desk while we are there,” said Alex Juorio, director of the library.

“The real power of the site is that we can basically access the collection of all the public libraries in the province … as we do here. So even though there is not a large collection at the Bernice Sayese Centre, you have the power to access a very large collection of books.”

Along with two staff members that will assist the public in getting a card, getting books and putting a hold on materials, there will be someone to run an outreach story time.

It’s not just books – the library is working to keep up with modern times, there is also the ability to download e-books and borrow everything from magazines to CDs, Juorio said.

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“We’re still in the book business, but technology is very much the way of the future and we’re moving that way ourselves to stay relevant,” he said.

“We’re trying to encourage literacy, computer literacy, information literacy of all kinds.”

They’ve made the changes without spending any extra money, Juorio said.

“This isn’t costing anyone any additional money, to provide this. It’s just a service point.”

The space is free and they are using existing library equipment and staff, he said.

With the ongoing changes at the library’s main branch that shifted all public services to the main floor and offices downstairs, it freed staff time as now only one desk needs to be staffed.

The conversations about the satellite branch started in early January, when they saw the need, said Juorio.

“We noticed that small children were walking in from the West Flat, in the dead of winter, to use our internet here and we have known for a long time that there was a need for some kind of library service in the West Flat,” he said.

The doors opened to the public on Tuesday. The hours are currently set at 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons.

ahill@panow.com