WEYBURN - Isabelle Butters, longtime library volunteer, was honoured during a ceremony, held in front of the Weyburn Public Library on Sunday afternoon. A memorial bench has been placed there, dedicated to her memory.
“I was privileged to work on the library board with Isabelle for 13 years before she retired, and I also got to know her through Quota. I got to know her the best at my mother’s kitchen table when we shared a cup of tea some days,” said Diane Sander, who spoke on behalf of the Weyburn Public Library board.
“Isabelle is remembered for a lot of different roles in our community. She is remembered for her time as alderman, as it was called at that time, and her time as mayor. She is remembered for her time as the general manager of the Co-op. She is remembered by many organizations in our community,” said Sander.
She focused on the dedication and passion that Isabelle had while she served with the Weyburn Public Library. “As alderman, Isabelle first was the city’s representative on the Weyburn Public Library Board back in 1971. She served on the board from ’71 until ’76, took a little break, and then returned to the board from 1984 to 2003. She served as our chair from 1987 to 2003.
“At the same time, Isabelle was also appointed to the Southeast Regional Library board, and also served as their chairperson from 1987 to 2003.”
Sander said one of the biggest things that occurred during Butter’s tenure as chair was the creation of a new Southeast Regional Library building, to replace the temporary office that had been located at the former Souris Valley grounds.
“Isabelle had a vision, to join both the Southeast Regional Library with the Weyburn Public Library, and make a bigger library for the community.”
“As that project for the Southeast Regional Library started to wind down, then immediately we started fundraising for the addition for the Weyburn Public Library. I remember as a board member back then, how daunting it was to raise the funds needed for the renovation. Isabelle took it all in stride, and personally contacted every organization in the community to get the money to start flowing in,” said Sander.
“Isabelle was very instrumental in helping bringing in new technology to all of our library branches. At the time we were getting hooked up with all our computers, and all the public-access computers. Isabelle was very active behind-the-scenes.”
Butters also served on library committees at the provincial and national level.
“In 1972, she was appointed to the Saskatchewan Library Development Board, and she served on it until 1983. This was the board that was very active during the formation of the regional library system, and the start of the province-wide system that we all enjoy today.”
“She also served on the Saskatchewan Library board for four years after that. In 1992, Isabelle took part in the ‘Independent But Together’ visionary process, to look at the future of libraries in the province,” said Sander.
“In 1997, she served on the regional library review committee, and helped find ideas to strengthen the regional library systems. As well, Isabelle served on the Saskatchewan Library Trustees Association from 1992 to 2003, and served as president of that association for four years.”
Butters received the Saskatchewan Library Trustees Association life member award in 1997, and also served on the Canadian Library Trustees Association from 1999 to 2003.
“Isabelle’s contributions to the library community were many. So on behalf of the Weyburn Public Library board and staff, it is an honour to dedicate this bench to a library user, a library supporter, and an absolutely powerful library advocate.”
Isabelle’s sisters, Wilma Oliver and Shirley Aston, were present for the ceremony along with the library board and members of the public. Isabelle passed away in 2019.
