As we wrap up our 2024-2025 season, we must say goodbye to our faithful and energetic President, Wendy Saunders. Wendy took over as President in 2023 and has revitalized the group with her ideas, energy and sheer force of will. We have all benefitted from Wendy’s leadership and are happy to say she will be staying on in the Past President role to advise and guide as we move into the 2025-2026 season.
Why did Wendy feel compelled to get involved with the Friends of Strathcona County Library in the first place? Read on to find out…
“What is it about the library? Why is there a large group of people who refer to themselves as library lovers? I think for me it goes back to sitting on my mom’s knee listening to stories before I could read them myself. When I learned to read, it was a way to live the lives of Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Trixie Belden and The Bobbsey Twins and to imagine all the magical woodland creatures of the Thornton Burgess books. It also goes back to my school days when, right after lunch, teachers would read us chapters of books each day. This gave me a love of books, stories and imagination and in my small town, where you might consider your experiences limited, it gave me a thirst for reading and expanded my world.
Both my mother and father were avid readers as well, so I was introduced to the library at an early age. How else would I have experienced the whole Ann of Green Gables series and so many of the classics? The library provided adventures and possibilities and encouraged me to broaden my interests. Historical fiction is still my favourite genre, although I consider myself a mystery buff as well. However, non-fiction has also introduced me to politics, economics, sociology, biographies, ecology, history and so much more. So many books – so little time.
The library continues to entertain, inform, inspire and challenge. All in all – library lover is a label I am proud to own. It’s also a reason I volunteer with Friends of Strathcona County Library – it’s a way to ensure the library has all the resources it needs to provide a full learning experience in our community”.