The Cranbrook Public Library Board and staff wish to express their heartfelt gratitude to all the individuals who took the time to write almost 1,000 postcards sharing personal stories about the importance of the library in their lives.

Throughout September and October, people visited the library to write a postcard to one of three addressees: the City of Cranbrook Mayor, the Regional District of East Kootenay Electoral Area C Director or the provincial Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs.

The library chose an in-person postcard campaign, rather than an online one, to make sure everyone – from young children to seniors and everyone in between – had a chance to take part. In an age when many prefer to post their opinions through social media, this campaign intentionally asked people to make time in their busy lives to visit the library and write why it is important to them.

Hundreds of people made the commitment, demonstrating how much they care.

Here are some powerful snapshots taken from the postcards showing how the library serves as a vital community hub:

• Seniors shared that they “couldn’t get by without the Library,” emphasizing that as technology evolves, it is where they can receive help to understand the online world.
• Teachers and counsellors highlighted the invaluable nature of the Library’s resources for their own professional development and to supporting their students and clients.
• Individuals new to Cranbrook expressed gratitude for free computer access, which was essential for filling out online forms for rental agreements and apartment-hunting.
• Numerous local book clubs praised the free interlibrary loans service with which they can obtain enough copies of the books for their monthly meetings, calling the service “life changing” for their social lives and mental well-being.
• Local clubs such as the Cranbrook & District Garden Club, Cranbrook Pride, and Cranbrook Seniors’ Bridge Club talked about how the library provides a reliable, safe, and free space for them to get together.
• Young children were thrilled by the programs and books, while their parents noted that when dealing with tight budgets, the library provides invaluable free access to books and movies.
• Again and again, people highlighted that the library is one of the only safe and welcoming places in the community where everyone belongs.

“The sheer volume and emotional weight of these postcards show that the Cranbrook Public Library is not just a building filled with books; it’s the heart and gathering place of our community,” said Ursula Brigl, Chief Librarian at the Cranbrook Public Library.

The library has forwarded all the collected postcards to their intended recipients.

Together, the postcards powerfully demonstrate the library’s profound impact on the lives of Cranbrook and Area C residents.

Cranbrook Public Library

Article Share