Citizens of Medicine Hat stepped up in a big way recently to sponsor free library cards for all.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
The Medicine Hat Public Library has announced its latest sponsor to keep library cards available for all at no charge – the people of Medicine Hat themselves.
“You probably know this, but cards are free here at Medicine Hat Public Library. That’s thanks to the generous local sponsors who have given to our A Library Card for Every Hatter program,” said MHPL.
While cards at one point cost $5 for adults, with the cards covered, library staff had started to ask residents back in the spring if they were interested in paying that fee forward to allow someone else to get a card at no charge.
“Our plan was that when we got to $1,000 in pay-it-forward donations, we would get stickers for the cards to show they are free because of the community members who paid it forward,” said MHPL. “We blew past $1,000 before we knew it.”
Due to a busy summer and the opening of the mini-library at the Big Marble Go Centre, these stickers have been delayed for some time, but began to be applied to new library cards last week.
MHPL thanks the What Matters To Hatters Coalition for promoting the initiative back in April with their “Pay It Forward” themed-campaign, and encouraging people to do that at MHPL.
Those interested in being the next sponsor of our A Library Card for Every Hatter program, contact Chris at chrisb@shortgrass.ca or 403-502-8536 for more information.
