The Mary C. Moore Public Library is seeing the benefit of their newly leased Kinsmen Room. Since the beginning of the year, the Library has been leasing the room at the Lacombe Memorial Centre from the City of Lacombe for programming opportunities.  

“All I can tell you is our board, Friends of the Library, and my entire library team are very, very grateful to the City of Lacombe for granting us that that space. I can gladly report four months in, it is getting heavily used by an array of associations,” said Head Librarian Christina Petrisor.  

She says many local organizations are coming to make use of the versatile space which includes a kitchen and new furniture. However, there are a couple of stipulations for those looking to rent out the space.  

“We can’t rent it out to anyone who’s historically rented space from the LMC. There are certain criteria but it’s been working out really well,” she added.  

Over Wolf Creek School Division’s Spring Break, the library hosted a paint day in the room for local youth which saw an encouraging number of local students.  

“I believe we had 20 youth and in speaking with our Parkland Regional Library, they get three at Red Deer Public for a youth event,” said Petrisor.  

Earlier this year, Parkland Regional Libraries made a statement claiming they were uncertain about how inflationary pressures would be affecting public libraries. Petrisor says she was concerned taking on a new lease with the Kinsmen room but saw an increase in funding from the province.  

“Since January, we've received a provincial increase to adjust the population amounts because they hadn't been adjusted I believe since 2009. We've received an increase from the province. We did not ask for an increase from the city, which is not common. We were the only agency in Lacombe that did not ask for an increase this year I believe,” she explained.  

However, that is not to say local libraries are not seeing the brunt of inflation. Petrisor considers the Mary C. Moore Public Library lucky.  

Overall, with the new room, new opportunities, and a little more funding, Petrisor says all is well at the Mary C. Moore Public Library. She is happy to see visitors at the Lacombe Memorial Centre return to pre-pandemic levels.  

“Thank you on the part of the City Council and everyone for giving, faith in us to use this space. We’re looking forward to seek out other people that may want to partner with the library to offer certain programs and services that are not already here,” she added.