Demand continues to grow for programming at the Whitecourt Library

By Serena Lapointe
 
During a recent Woodlands County Council meeting, Nancy Keough, Director of the
Whitecourt & District Public Library, provided elected officials with a current snapshot of
the library, including its programming and the continually growing popularity they have
experienced.
“The library serves residents at each stage of their life, beginning at birth to the end of
life. They all have different and diverse needs. We provide safe, inclusive, comfortable,
and cost-free space and experiences that advance quality of life, access to information,
and community connection, aligning with Woodlands County’s objective of regional
collaboration. One moment. One program. One service at a time,” began Keough,
thanking Woodlands County for its support and continued investment.
For Keough, libraries have been part of her personal fabric for years, having worked in
small, medium-sized, and large-scale libraries, both in Canada and the USA. “I’m a little
bit passionate about the work that we do in communities. I believe that good libraries
build collections, great libraries provide programming, and exceptional libraries create
community through access and experiences. I want to thank you for being part of that
story,” she smiled.
The three full-time, two part-time and four casual staff at the library work together to
provide top-tier programming that is free and inclusive, and perhaps the best news is
that both children and adults can and do enjoy it. One of the growing groups is the teens
and tweens category. Keough explained that due to demand, they have added a second
monthly get-together.
She said that one of the wonderful things about libraries is that they can pivot as
community needs arise. “We get to serve the community in the way that it needs. We
can turn direction on a dime, unless of course we are under specific grant funding, but
in general, it’s really rare to find an organization that has that adaptability and ability to
change and move direction (like a library). Obviously, we plan ahead and have a
strategic plan, but we’re really not stuck in a corner if something’s not working,” she
explained, or in this case, is working really well and needs to expand.
By increasing to two nights a month, the teens and tweens get more face time with each
other, but also with staff. “It’s an opportunity for them to connect with each other,
connect with our staff as good role models and to try something new, whether that is a
science experiment or a craft,” said Keough.

Another program that keeps growing is the After-School Program. The current schedule
provides three days a week, during the school year, from Tuesday to Thursday, where
kids can pop in, do a craft or something else fun, from 3:30 to 5:00, in a safe, welcoming
environment.
Keough explained that demand exists for the program to run Monday to Friday. “We are
hoping to do that in the new space with increased staffing and space. We have one
programming room in the current library that is in very high demand. So, if we utilize
those five days a week for after-school at this time, we would not be able to provide
programming for other age groups in the community.”
The new library in the Canfor Culture and Events Centre, slated to open this fall, is
roughly double the square footage of the current library, which would provide more
space for programming, allowing staff to potentially run multiple programs at the same
time without locking up the only space available. The solo programming room at the
current library is not only used by staff but is also used by community groups, further
showing the need for more space. And it’s not just the kids. Adults have also found out
how awesome the library is, regularly taking part in programming, often resulting in
waitlists.
In 2025, 67,950 people walked through the doors at the Whitecourt Library and just shy
of 6,000 people attended one of the 451 in-person programs offered. “Over 50,000
physical items were checked out of the library, defeating the belief that reading is a
fading form of education and entertainment. Naturally, people are coming into our
building for a variety of uses, but those are physical items being checked out of our
location,” explained Keough.
She said the support offered through the library doesn’t stop at materials and
programming either. With a public Wi-Fi connection available, 2025 saw over 18,000
connections to it. Keough said it’s not just about providing it; it’s about how it is
accessed and the support provided on site. “The numerous people that we serve at the
public computers or on their own devices, whether that’s with form completion and
access, the statistics don’t tell that whole part of the story. Same with the person on a
health journey, who we just showed how to use ChatGPT to create a free personal
nutrition plan and exercise plan. We break down boundaries, create space, and build
community every day,” she continued.
Keough said she is excited about the opportunity to bring more value to Woodlands
County and Whitecourt residents next year by increasing program capacity and classes
through additional staffing and increased space in the new library.