ALAMEDA - Tracey Gibson began her career at the Alameda Public Library as the assistant librarian many years ago.
When Diane Miller was set to retire as the librarian, Gibson became the head librarian in August 2023, and Miller moved into the assistant position.
Gibson was raised on a farm 10 kilometres north of Alameda and has remained in the area ever since. After graduating from high school, she took an office education program through Saskatchewan Polytechnic.
She worked for several years at the credit unions in Estevan and Alameda but decided to remain at home to have more time with her children. Gibson’s three children are now grown and this is when she felt she could fully apply herself to the library.
Enjoying her work at the library, she feels they offer a wide range of books and various activities for all ages.
The library has been in its new location since 2012, but it has been in existence for a long time. It is open 15 hours per week, with Tuesdays and Thursdays having later hours to accommodate those who work later.
Every month it offers a few after-school programs, but also has available crafts, Lego, marble runs and puzzles to entertain those that would prefer not to sit and read.
Once a month the local school comes to the library, and the library can order kits from headquarters for the kids to enjoy. For example, this could be a button-making kit.
Throughout the summer, the TD Summer Reading Program will be in place to encourage kids to read in July and August. They usually have a contest with a small prize at the end of the season.
Adult classes are part of the lineup of programs, including a book club, usually at the end of the month.
Through grants from the Southeast Sport, Culture and Recreation District and Sask Lotteries for the Art Starts Projects, this has allowed the library to have Ruth Langwieser come out for two classes, one for ceramics and the other for felting. These are offered free to the public thanks to the grants.
Glenys Neuman did a non-till gardening presentation and Tara Brock does gentle yoga twice a week for health and wellness.
They have the Science Centre Outreach program coming on July 17 and a colour fun book on Aug. 1, which has fun stations for the kids.
Programs are always being added and the monthly calendar, available at the library, is a way to know what is happening.
The Alameda Public Library not only has books for all ages, but it also has video games, DVDs, books on CDs. Any book can be brought in from across the province, and books can be dropped off at any library as well to make it easy for all patrons.
Gibson did not know how many people have passed through the doors of the library, but she did note that over 2,250 items were checked out in 2023, and Gibson hopes to see at least that many checked out this year.
