Okotoks Library announces ambitious new plan of service

Exciting things are happening at the local library.

A newly-announced strategic plan and roadmap aims to be a bold step forward for the Okotoks Public Library as it works to meet the evolving needs of users and ensure it remains a cornerstone of information, inspiration and connection in Okotoks.

"We wanted to make sure that we allowed the library to be flexible and to respond to the community's needs," said Okotoks Public Library executive director Sarah Gillie on the 2025-2029 plan of service.

One of the key strategic areas is childhood education as the library aims to further enhance literacy and education for children through access to diverse and high-quality resources and programs.

To do that, the library will focus on incentives for increased reading, collaborations with schools, expanded program scheduling and more.

"I think we were really focused on that kind of service design," said Gillie. "How can we serve the public? How can the library move forward? Okotoks is a growing community."

Other areas of focus include lifelong learning and personal interest, expressing creativity, community resources and accessing accurate information.

The Okotoks Library aims to work on those areas through increased training for the facilitation of a wider range of programming, removing barriers to access and increasing creative spaces.

To further bring itself into the community and establish itself as the central hub of information, the library will increase partnerships with community-based resources and increase promotion of services and events while ensuring the information it provides through its materials, collections and resources is accurate.

"I'm really excited about where the next five years is going to take us," said Gillie.

Specific deliverables will be established by the library management and board as the plan progresses.

The strategic plan is available online here, and print copies are available for pick-up at the library.

The library's growth in 2024 also included the addition of 8,174 items to its collection, bringing its total to 65,273, which includes books, DVDs, audiobooks and assorted items like snowshoes, lights and more.

Learn more about the Okotoks Public Library here, and access the library's catalogue here.