Alberta's Northern Lights Library System boosts services and resources for patrons
Out on the golf course, John’s instructor recommended the book The Secret of Golf. Right there on the 14th green, John used his phone to reserve it at the library.
At home, Kira and her mom finished the second Harry Potter book and couldn’t wait to start the third — so they grabbed their iPad and within minutes were reading the e-edition, downloaded from the library site.
Janice couldn’t find the Charlotte Brontë novel she wanted at the local library, but thanks to inter-library loan, the book arrived at her branch within a week.
For those thousands of neighbors reserving books, searching titles online, reading e-editions, or borrowing from another branch, the public library system needs to be powered by a computer system that’s fast, efficient, and reliable.
In the case of the Northern Lights Library System (NLLS) in northeastern Alberta, there are 46 libraries relying on the same server – which keeps track of more than two million items, around 150,000 patron records, e-books and e-magazines, and other resources for library users in 52 municipalities.
Earlier this year, the NLLS’s information technology department raised concerns about the library’s aging infrastructure, and the possibility that a system failure could see library patrons’ access to library services and resources cut off.
“Without the servers working, we’d be in big trouble,” says NLLS communications and marketing consultant Adriene Shapka, adding that government funding the NLLS receives covers day-to-day operations, but would not be sufficient to purchase a big-ticket piece of technology like a new server.
When our stakeholder relations team at Enbridge heard about the NLLS’s technological woes, they encouraged the organization to apply for one of our community investment grants, which we distribute as a way to strengthen and enhance the communities in which we live and work.
At Enbridge, one of our focus areas is educational enrichment; we believe education is one of the most powerful gifts we can help deliver. This NLLS technology upgrade was a perfect way to help thousands of individuals learn and grow. To that end, the organization was awarded a $20,000 grant to purchase a new server.
“Libraries are community-builders . . . by supporting the Northern Lights Library System, we are helping many people in communities along our rights-of-way,” says Malina Adams, a stakeholder relations advisor with Enbridge. “We’re providing children, youth, adults, and senior citizens with access to education and knowledge.”
This new technological infrastructure will also allow the NLLS to keep up with today’s fast-paced world, and expectations from communities.
“Libraries are the cornerstone of your freedom to read, share information, and learn,” says Shapka. “This donation from Enbridge is really important to us. The new server is a huge upgrade for us and will allow patrons to have access to the best possible library service.”
