The Sechelt Public Library is hosting their first ever fundraiser to pay renovations, and will be hosting several fundraisers to help pay for the work.

The fundraiser will see a gourmet dinner take place at the Sunshine Coast Golf & Country Club. The ‘Gourmet Dinner’ will take place on October 28th and will include entertainment by Kara Stanley, Simon Paradis and Boyd Norman as well as a silent auction.

Ann Hopkins, Chair of the Board says the facility is aging and dated; “we have been operating for 21 years without any kind of capital support”. Hopkins says they are one of the busiest small libraries in the province, with an average of 50 visitors an hour. “We are not comparatively funded with other libraries in the region. On a per capita basis for example, Powell River gers 52% more than we do at $70 per capita. Gibsons gets 34% more than we do at $50 per capita, and we get $33. So there’s a big gap in operating funds too, we are the little library that could.” says Hopkins.

To date the library has a grant of $50,000 from the Canada 150 Infrastructure Program and are hoping to raise around $100,000 plus. It is hoped that the project will be completed in the new year.

The renovations will see glass doors replace metal gates in the library, small contemporary help-desks will replace the current service counter. Self check out machines will allow the public to check out up to 16 books at a time, freeing up staff time. A wall will be built between the magazine reading area and the children’s area, allowing for a quieter reading space, magazine shelves will be refitted and a First Nations display will also be added near the library’s entrance.

Tickets for the fundraiser are now on sale for $100. You can find more details about the renovation project and the ‘Gourmet Dinner’ fundraiser on the library’s website, by clicking here.

 

Filed under: District of Sechelt, Fundraiser, Library, Sechelt, Sechelt Public Library, Sunshine Coast