Staff at the Estevan Public Library is looking to spruce up library space, making it both more inviting and comfortable.
To do that, the library is looking toward the public to help make the space around the books one that everyone can enjoy. That will mean some new furniture and the ability to keep the sun out at certain times of the day.
It's the cloth furniture they are looking to replace because it's growing more out of date and more difficult in terms of upkeep, said Kate-Lee Donohoe, the library's manager.
"A lot of the furniture that we have is cloth, and I'm thinking that we're hoping to switch to something that is easier to keep clean," she said. "The stuff we have has been here for quite a while and it would be nice to have something that's a little more attractive, a little more modern and easier to keep clean than what we have now."
She added that they are looking for furniture that is flexible and user friendly, considering the furniture in the library experiences some things outside the boundary of normal wear and tear.
"I don't know if there's anything you can get that keeps kids from jumping on the couches," she said with a laugh. "I don't know what's friendly for that."
As far as being able to clean the potential furniture, Donohoe noted they recently attended Estevan Diversified Services who have some furniture that can be cleaned with Lysol wipes, and that's something they would be looking for as a replacement.
"Even for the whole sanitary feature of it, it's a little bit cleaner for the various people who are using it all the time."
Donohoe said they are primarily looking for financial donations, though if the right piece of furniture is directed their way, that would be acceptable.
"We don't want anything too old or already been used, that type of thing, but we're open to any suggestions," she said.
The other issue in the library, which has been an ongoing one since it opened, is the heat when the sun gets high in the sky and shines through the windows in the southeast corner of the library.
"In our far corner, we have no blinds at all. Half the library has blinds, the other half doesn't, and now that we're using it as more of a socializing and meeting place, it gets pretty hot down there. Even today, the sun is shining and beaming down there and there are a few people, who in the summertime, they're sweating and that's not really the greatest."
They have added blinds to their operating budget for the last two years, she said, but haven't been able to make it work, so they are now turning to the public to help raise the necessary funds.
"We love having the windows, but it would be nice if we could close them off. We have kids pretending they're down at the beach sun tanning, lying on the ground."
On April 26, the library is hosting a family fundraiser, bringing in a magician from Regina. The location for the event has not yet been determined.
"We're trying to make it different from our programming, so we're trying to have it in a different location, get us out in the community. Instead of people coming into the library, we're going somewhere else."
Those who would like to help the library may call Donohoe at 306-636-1620. She said she can answer any questions about what they are looking to install regarding both blinds and furniture.
