Morinville Community Library Assistant Manager Cheryl Pasechnik poses with afew of the items up for bid in the library’s upcoming silent auction. The bi-annual fundraiser will offer some great Christmas shopping opportunities while raising funds for library programs in 2015.
– Stephen Dafoe Photo
by Stephen Dafoe
The Morinville Community Library is getting ready for another of their popular silent auctions, a week-long event that offers patrons and visitors an opportunity to acquire some great items for their Christmas shopping lists while raising funds for library programming.
The event runs from 4 p.m. Nov. 24 until 2 p.m. Nov. 30 and organizers are hoping the event will be the largest yet. The library’s last two auctions have raised a combined $5,600 for the library, and auction organizers are hoping to hit a minimum $2,500 from this year’s edition.
“It’s a fun thing to come and support your local library,” said Morinville Community Library Assistant Manager Cheryl Pasechnik. “We run it for a whole week … and it’s throughout the whole library. There are going to be toys, [Disney] collectibles, quilt sets, clothing, [and] special items from businesses in the community.”
Pasechnik said it is not uncommon to see people coming in every day to monitor their bids to see if they have been outbid. All of the items and bidding sheets are set up throughout the library and bidding runs during every hour the library is open.
“We even have a bunch of people come at the end of the auction to see if their bids have won. It’s kind of fun,” she said of the excitement that surrounds the event.
While watching the bidding go on and up is exciting for library staff who organize and run the fundraiser, so too is the prospect of maintaining and expanding library programs.
“All the proceeds go to the programs and services of the library that otherwise wouldn’t get funded,” Pasechnik said. “Through it, we are able to do a lot of extra programs like the Lego Club and stuff in the library for families.”
Expanded program offerings
Since reopening their doors after renovations in 2012, the Morinville Community Library has become increasingly busy as the number of programs has been increased. In 2014 the popular Library Lego Club went from a once-a-month event to twice a month. Their children’s movie events now take place twice on professional development days to accommodate all the children who attend. Additionally, the library’s writer’s group has expanded from a bi-weekly to a weekly event.
For more information on the auction and programming, visit morinvillelibrary.ca or call 780-939-3292.
