VISION STATEMENT

The Morinville Public Library is an essential innovative community service and an accessible resource for people of all ages and backgrounds, enhancing our quality of life and affirming our sense of community, and our spirit of optimism and discovery.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Morinville Public Library mission is to give access to ideas in various media. This is to be done during convenient hours and in pleasant surroundings. The Library hopes to satisfy its members' recreational and practical interests by use of both traditional and emerging technologies. Its reference and other collections are to be kept up to date and will include works that are classics of their kind. The Library's mission most of all is to serve and to be responsive to the needs of the community.

VALUES

The Morinville Public Library values:

• Community - for every user or potential user of the library.
• Service Orientation - providing quality customer driven services.
• Accountability - of Library Board and Staff.
• Equity - accessibility, diversity, and fairness in the treatment of all individuals.
• Partnerships - continuing to be partners with other community groups, businesses, and government.
• Learning Environment - suitable physical space and inviting atmosphere.
• Promoting Staff Relations - healthy, safe and challenging environment in which to work.
• Recognizing Diversity - skills and competencies.

Forty Years of History: 1967 - 2010

The Morinville Public Library has always played a significant role in our community. In 2007, we reached that ruby milestone. The library's humble beginnings started in the cloakroom of the Parish Centre, with a collection of donated books, staffed by volunteers.

In 1966, Mrs. Phoebe Clark saw a great need for a library. The following year, 1967, was the year of Canada's centennial and the proposed new library was the perfect project. A library board formed under the direction of Mrs. Clark included Albert Ouellette (town rep), Lil Boddez, Lorraine Ferguson, Angeline Leduc and John Wozney. The site chosen was the old post office where Alta Gas is now located. Many volunteers worked a year in preparation collecting books, furnishings and other supplies.

The Morinville Municipal Centennial Library was officially opened on September 9th, 1967, staffed by the Board and volunteers. They completed the auxiliary work of cataloguing, ordering books, cleaning, etc.

December 7, 1967: Angeline Leduc is the first full time librarian.

March, 1974: Marlene Tellier hired as assistant librarian.

September, 1977: Helene Riopel replaced Angeline Leduc as librarian. A tea was held to celebrate the 10th anniversary.

September, 1978: The library opens on Saturdays.

January, 1979: Valerie Loehde hired as assistant librarian.

March, 1980: Pauline Underwood becomes librarian after spending several years as a Board Member.

1981: The library moves to the Historical and Cultural Centre.

1985: Friends of the Library is formed. This was an exciting year as an Apple computer is purchased enabling electronic cataloguing.

June, 1990: Pauline Underwood leaves and is replaced by Judith McKenney for six months. Mark Oberg becomes librarian with Valerie Loehde and Cecile Robertson as assistants.

1992: The library celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary. It is now called the Morinville Public Library.

1993: Library moves to Main Street as part of the Town's new office building.

2001: Valerie Loehde becomes librarian with Louise Horstman as interim Library Manager.

2003: Joanne Southham is the Librarian.

2007: Isabelle Cramp accepts position as Library Manager.

2010: Library moves to the Parish Hall due to renovations to the Civic Plaza takes place.

2012: Library moves back to the New Renovated Library

2012:  November 25 Library has Grand Opening

Presently we have approximately 3000 memberships as well as a great number of walk-in patrons utilizing our services.

We have come a long way since 1967 and are very confident that the next years will change just as dramatically.