The Siglunes Library will welcome residents on May 27 from 2 to 4 p.m. for a Patron Appreciation Day aimed at recognizing users and showcasing a series of recent upgrades completed with provincial and municipal support.
The event will take place at the Ashern Library and will include refreshments, activities and a door prize.
Organizers said the appreciation day is intended as both a thank-you to current patrons and an invitation for more RM of Grahamdale residents and others in the surrounding area to discover and use the library, noting that not all residents are aware they already have access to the facility.
Library board chair and Grahamdale assistant chief administrative officer Devan McCoubrey, along with librarian Chrissy Hickerson, said the timing of the event aligns with the completion of several years of improvements to the space and offers an opportunity to showcase the updated facility.
“We have done so many improvements to the library over the last couple of years and we want people to come in, see the changes and celebrate with us,” they wrote in a combined email.
They said the goal is to celebrate the completed work while encouraging the community to visit the library, see the changes and take part in the celebration.
The event will feature complimentary coffee and tea along with baked goods. It will also include a draw for a Kobo e-reader compatible with the Libby app, which allows users to access digital books through the library system.
Organizers emphasized the event is open to all residents, whether they are frequent library users, occasional visitors or have never visited before.
“We hope people feel really proud of our local library and are reminded that this is an important community space,” they added.
Recent renovations included fresh paint throughout the building, updated lighting, new furniture and upgraded display boards designed to support rotating seasonal programming and community displays.
The work was necessary because of the constraints of a small rural library budget and would not have been possible without funding from the Province of Manitoba’s Arts, Culture and Sport in Community Fund. Additional contributions came from the RM of Grahamdale and the RM of West Interlake.
Since the renovations were completed, staff have noticed the space feels brighter, cleaner and more welcoming, with improved lighting and more flexibility for programming and displays.
McCoubrey and Hickerson said the library serves a broader purpose than book lending alone, acting as a community hub.
“Libraries provide more than just books. Libraries give people within our communities access to activities, reading programs and events that foster human connection.”
They pointed to events such as seasonal crafts, reading programs, contests and informal activities as examples of how the library engages residents throughout the year.
They also noted that some RM of Grahamdale residents may not realize they are eligible to use the Ashern library and said the appreciation day is intended, in part, to raise awareness of that access.
Looking ahead, McCoubrey and Hickerson said they hope continued programming and outreach will increase community engagement and further establish the library as a central gathering place in the municipality.
