If you think back on your childhood, what is your earliest memory of having someone read to you? Did you have that ritual as a child of a parent or caregiver reading you a bedtime story every night? Was in a rainy day treat to curl up on the couch with mom, dad or grandma, grandpa with your favourite story? It’s even quite possible that you’re first story time was even before you could hold your own head up or understand what you were hearing – and for the wonderful team of the Chestermere Public Library Foundation, that’s exactly what they are hoping for.
The Chestermere Public Library Foundation is a group committed to creating the very best library for the residents of Chestermere. The group was formed in 2006, just a year before the Chestermere Public Library opened its doors in November 2007. The Library Foundation strives to offer many programs to children and families that will instill in them a love for reading. Books for Babies is a program for the newest community members and their grown-ups. This program, which was created in 2010, promotes early literacy and family reading by providing fun and educational additions to family bookshelves.
Every six months to a year, The Library Foundation holds a ‘stuffing bee’and fills bags with all sorts of information on the Chestermere Public Library and on family literacy and a specially selected book that is infant appropriate. This year, a gift certificate for a free library membership is also being included in the bags. The filled bags are then distributed to community health nurses in Chestermere and throughout S.E. Rockyview and the nurses distribute the bags when they do their visits and check up’s on the new babies born in our community.
Between 200 and 400 bags are given out each year in hopes that parents will begin that precious story time with their new bundle of joy. Along with welcoming new babies to the community, these gift bags are also a way to introduce, or even serve as a reminder, the adults of our community that Chestermere has a fantastic library with many programs and services for all ages.
Programs such as ‘Baby Talk’ – a free drop-in group for moms and babies, ages 0–1 year old. Each week an Early Childhood Nurse presents a different topic; ‘Eat To Live Chestermere’; ‘Listening Tails’ – a program designed to help young children improve their reading skills and confidence in reading out loud by reading to therapy dogs and ‘Storytime’ – are just a few of the amazing programs ran by the library.
The Chestermere Public Library Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness through a variety of initiatives including casino events, silent auctions, gala evening and the Loop Around The Lake community event – which is being held this year on Father’s Day. All funds raised at the Loop Around The Lake event go directly to the Chestermere Public Library.
To learn more about our amazing library, please visit www.chestermerepubliclibrary.com
If you are interested in supporting the foundation, please consider becoming a member or volunteering. For more information on the Chestermere Public Library Foundation: Contact: Aubrey Fletcher, President – email: chestermerefoundation@gmail.com
