Westworld Alberta
Issue link: http://westworldmagazine.ama.ab.ca/i/40418
roadside Bookmobile to the Rescue by Omar Mouallem >> photograph by Karl Zielke It took almost three years to raise the funds to build Slave Lake's public library and just minutes for a wildfire to destroy the year-old building, 26,000 books and all. But thanks to a bookmobile donated by Strathcona County, residents of Slave Lake still have their library privileges. Wildfi res destroyed about a third of Slave Lake this spring, forcing its 7,000 residents to evacuate. In the months that followed, aid poured in from around the world to assist dis- placed locals and the rebuilding efforts. Even Prince William and Kate Middleton made an unplanned visit July 6 to show support. Just a week after the Slave Lake library was destroyed, the Strathcona County Library, three hours away, offered a temporary solution. It had recently replaced its bookmobile, one of only two mobile libraries in the province, and it was able to press the retired bus back into service — cleaning it, insuring it, redecorating the exterior and stocking it with 5,000 donated books, movies and magazines. In a few short weeks, it was on the road. The bookmobile arrived in Slave Lake June 28, but made its grand debut July 9 at the town's annual summer parade, which was proudly held despite fl ooding in the ravaged area. It could be three years before Slave Lakers see a new library building and a few months before a second tem- porary site is set up at Northern Lakes College. Until then, the bookmobile is parked outside the college for their reading pleasure. 62 WESTWORLD >> SEPTEMBER 2011 (inset) Greg Southam/Edmonton Journal