"BCLD serves nearly 12,000 residents in Bonners Ferry, a small community straddling the Kootenai River, with its northern border touching Canada," they wrote of our community's outstanding library.
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| Boundary County Library Director Craig Anderson |
For 30 years, Sandy Ashworth, BCLD's recently retired director, developed the library's vision and community connections and identified the county's needs. She saw that openings would have to be created to encourage residents to innovate and build business that could strengthen the shrinking farming and timber economy.
She worked to get new resources and repurpose library space to develop practical educational programs at BCLD, to help upgrade and modernize skills and opportunities in the county and to inspire confidence that this progress is coming.
Ashworth identified the need to raise residents' tech skills and saw that the library could be positioned to respond. She said, "The library's goal is to provide people with a toolbox to allow them access to new ideas and technologies that they can use to make Bonners Ferry a more successful place."
Today, innovative educator Craig Anderson runs the library and continues its progress.
"I let the board know that I share Sandy's vision to take the library far beyond a traditional library," Anderson told Library Journal.
"With its dynamic environment, creative use of resources, and high levels of engagement, BCLD is a model for all of America's libraries – no matter their size," said Rebecca T. Miller, editorial director of Library Journal and School Library Journal. "By collaborating with local schools, businesses and community members, the BCLD team is fulfilling its mission to create a culture of opportunity in Bonners Ferry."
This year's finalists for the 2017 Best Small Library in America Award also share a focus on innovative programs and collaboration to deliver exceptional service with limited resources. They are Columbus Public Library, Wisconsin, under the leadership of Director Cindy Fesemyer, and Pottsboro Area Library, Texas, under the leadership of Director Dianne Connery.
Also featured in the September 15, 2017 issue of Library Journal, the two finalists will receive $1,000 each in credit toward purchasing JLG book selections for their collections.
Each nomination was evaluated by a panel of qualified industry professionals — including Rosemary Cooper, director of Albert Wisner Public Library, Warwick, New York, Best Small Library in America 2016. Entries are judged based on criteria that include developing innovative services that can be replicated by other libraries, technology use and education, collaboration, and serving as a focal point for the community.
To learn more, visit http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2017/09/awards/bestsmalllibrary2017.