2021 Winner: Willow Bunch Public Library
Honourable Mention: Tugaske Public Library
Congratulations to Willow Bunch Public Library for winning the Mike and Edie Klein Branch of the Year Award, and to Tugaske Public Library for the Honourable Mention!
The Willow Bunch library has many people thank for its success this year, especially the Willow Bunch librarian, Barb Gibbons. She is amazing, organized, friendly and very patron focused. She goes above and beyond in her commitment and devotion to our library. Barb is knowledgeable about the many purposes of the library and is constantly searching for ways to achieve that mission. She endeavours to know every person in town and the rural area. Her relationships with children are developed at a young age, a love of visiting the library that remains in them for a lifetime. When new people move to town Barb reaches out to them to welcome them and helps them with printing/copying forms and other needs they may have as newcomers to the town or even the country. She is excellent at community outreach and is constantly finding ways to welcome and assist new people.
The Willow Bunch library strives to create a welcoming, educational, fun library that is constantly developing new ways to reach patrons of all ages. During all the ups and down of the COVID pandemic, with changes in restrictions they continued to reach new people and develop their love of reading and the community relationships in their area. They developed innovative programming during the pandemic - programming that encouraged people to get out and about in the community in safe and socially distanced ways - like holding scavenger hunts for the children of the community. At a time when many others were moving to online programming, the children in their community were out getting fresh air and making discoveries about and within their community - all of which are key components of good mental health in a world that had been turned upside down.
According to the Willow Bunch library board, "Our library isn’t a house for books it is a home for our community."
2019 Winner: Davidson Public Library
Honourable Mention: Bethune Public Library
Congratulations to Davidson on earning The Mike and Edie Klein Branch of the Year, 2019, and Bethune on Honourable Mention. This award, established in 1981 to encourage the pursuit of excellence and to recognize a branch library for significant overall improvement in service to the community, was renamed in 2017 to honour Mike and Edie Klein and their dedicated service to Palliser Regional Library. These libraries demonstrated exemplary patron services through library statistics, improvements to facilities, active board members, community partnerships, fund-raising projects, library promotions, programming, and compliance with Palliser Regional Library policies.
Davidson stands out with increased circulation and programming geared around identified needs in the community. Victoria Martin as Branch Librarian, along with Tracey Blenkin as Assistant Branch Librarian, and the Davidson Library Board and volunteers created a community garden and green space and expanded and scheduled programming around the communities needs, availabilities, and interests. This includes the creation of Library Leaders, youth volunteers dedicating their time to help with programming, parade floats, and projects in the library. The Davidson Library continued to maintain their previous programming including Read & Rhyme, LEGO Club, Crafternoon Sessions, Everyone's Book Club and the participation and hosting of Live History. Working together with the Town of Davidson, Communities in Bloom, and through donations from the R.M. of Arm River and grants from Affinity Credit Union, not only was the backyard transformed for programming space and a Community Garden developed, but the interior of the building is being updated with new windows and paint. Davidson truly supports the library as a place for community.
Bethune Library led by Branch Librarian, Robbie Curtis and Board President Debra Thompson also stood out to the committee as exemplary in service and partnerships. These partnerships include the Bethune Lions Club, Bethune Youth Project Group, the Bethune Starsations Dance Club, and the Bethune Recreation Board, as well as area schools. When the Play Patrol program was cut, Bethune Library stepped in with funding help from the Bethune Youth Project and Bethune Recreation Board to offer 50 hours of play patrol. Other programs that are ongoing and supported by the community include Story Hour, Lego Club, Summer Reading Club, Book Club, Books for the Sick, Community in Motion. Bethune Library is truly an important part of the community with many patrons contacting Palliser Regional Library about the great work Robbie, the Library Board, and volunteers do to keep Bethune Library as an asset to the community.
Past Winners
2018 - Tugaske Public Library
2017 - Wood Mountain Public Library
2016 - No Winner (Due to Provincial Budget Cuts)
2015 - Mossbank Public Library
- Honourable Mention to Craik Public Library
2014 - Bethune Public Library
- Honourable Mention to Willow Bunch Public Library
2013 - Moose Jaw Public Library
2012 - Mortlach Public Library
2011 - Willow Bunch Public Library
- Honourable Mentions to Bethune Public Library and Mortlach Public Library
2010 - Rouleau Public Library
- Honourable Mention to Mossbank Public Library
2009 - Willow Bunch Public Library
2008 - Bethune Public Library
- Honourable Mention to Coronach Public Library
2007 - Coronach Public Library
- Honourable Mention to Mortlach Public Library
2006 - Coronach Public Library and Holdfast Public Library (Tie)
2005 - Elbow Public Library
2004 - Tugaske Public Library
2003 - Riverhurst Public Library
2002 - Assiniboia & District Public Library and Craik Public Library (Tie)
2001 - Elbow Public Library
- Honourable Mention to Rouleau Public Library
2000 - Rouleau Public Library
1999 - Assiniboia & District Public Library
1998 - Loreburn Public Library
- Honourable Mention to Rouleau Public Library
1997 - Elbow Public Library and Willow Bunch Public Library
1996 - Craik Public Library and Davidson Public Library (Tie)
1995 - No Winner
- Honourable Mention to Craik Public Library
1994 - Riverhurst Public Library
1993 - Holdfast Public Library and Moose Jaw Public Library (Tie)
1992 - Tugaske Public Library
- Honourable Mentions to Avonlea Public Library and Mossbank Public Library
1991 - Mossbank Public Library
1990 - Imperial Public Library
- Honourable Mention to Mossbank Public Library
1989 - Bushell Park Public Library and Tugaske Public Library (Tie)
1988 - Coronach Public Library
- Honourable Mentions to Avonlea Public Library and Tugaske Public Library
1987 - Imperial Public Library
1986 - Davidson Public Library
1985 - Willow Bunch Public Library
- Runner Up: Avonlea Public Library
1984 - Caronport Public Library
1983 - Rockglen Public Library
1982 - Avonlea Public Library
1981 - Coronach Public Library