Sahra Hancock assumes new role as library's Community Outreach Coordinator

Sarah Hancock in a book-filled nook

Chris Davis

Formerly a Town of Pincher Creek Councillor and local businesswoman, Sahra Hancock has assumed a new role to which she seems particularly suited at the Pincher Creek and District Municipal Library. Part of Hancock's mission is to  increase communications with the media and public. To that end she sat down with me last week to talk about her new role and ongoing and upcoming events.  "The Library has just established a new position called the Community Outreach Coordinator, and I have started with this position," she explained.  "There is an element of programming, making more programming available to the community, elements of public relations, and elements of  strategic planning."


"One of the things I am very excited about is we are trying to find ways to bring in more storytellers.  Storytelling is one of the most elemental ways of human connection. The tools that we use to share stories are changing, the ways that we meet each other to share are changing."  Hancock explained the library is partnering with other community groups to take library services to the community.  "I am hoping to really promote that  element of service delivery that is available through the library here."

Hancock believes libraries are more necessary than ever in the digital age.  "As more spaces become commercialized,  the library has a really important public space role."

Halloween Howl 

Friday October 31, 4:00 pm to 5:30

"This will be our third year of having our Halloween Howl event.  It's turning into a natural history themed educational fun event.  It is free, open to anybody, and everybody, for all ages, focused on the younger end of the spectrum."

"There will be a bat themed activity - 'Hunt like a bat'. There will be blindfolds..." Cathy the snake has visited some of the schools, and will be at the library for this event.  John 'Spiderman' Hancock will talking about spiders, Alberta Parks will have a skill testing skull match game.

"Costumes are optional.  This event is designed to be more neutral and nature-based than about the macabre."

"There will be candy."

"Last year, we had about 70 people come.

Art in the Library

Art in the Library "is a new program that we are doing with the Allied Arts Council to show juried works of art from local artists.  Anyone is welcome to submit"

"The Allied Arts Council is responsible for receiving the artwork and doing the jury process."  The deadline for submissions has been extended to Friday, November 15.  "We are definitely looking for more submissions, and this will be an ongoing program."

"We are hoping to have this as an established rotation exhibit, and help to share art in the community. There are a lot of people that would come to a library, that may not ever go out to an art gallery. We can be a gateway art experience."

 "We are trying to establish more programming within the space."

Expanded French Language collection

"One of the things we are very excited about here is we do have an expanded French Language collection. There are a lot of kids books.  There is enough people in the French Language program in St. Mike's, and enough people who have it in their homes, that we want to encourage some bilingual awareness, education and programming."  Hancock saidFrench Film nights are a possibility for the future if there's enough interest.

Speaker Series

Tuesday evenings starting January 20

"We will have a really awesome speaker series this winter.  That's in collaboration with Alberta Parks.  We are very excited about the caliber of people we are lining up.

Story time at the Library

"Story time at the library has been happening for years, and years, and years." It is held Wednesdays at 10:00 am in partnership with Brighter Futures and is a free drop-in event.  "We are doing a new program at story-time called 'Little Rascals Book Club'."  Story time incorporates stories, songs, rhyms, and "an element of phusical literacy".

The library card is a passport to wonders and miracles, glimpses into other lives, religions, experiences, the hopes and dreams and strivings of ALL human beings, and it is this passport that opens our eyes and hearts to the world beyond our front doors, that is one of our best hopes against tyranny, xenophobia, hopelessness, despair, anarchy, and ignorance. –Libba Bray

Related links:
www.pinchercreeklibrary.ca
Pincher Creek District Library on Facebook
pincherlibrary on Twitter

Related story:
French language Mobile Collection available at Pincher Creek and District Municipal Library