Since the Whistler Public Library (WPL) opened its new Wonder Lab in May, it has played host to a local yoga teacher making instructional videos, a Whistler musician recording an album, and even helped launch a local podcast series.
“It’s been really amazing,” said WPL director Mikale Fenton.
“In the last month, it’s been pretty interesting. We’ve started to see the fruits of labour of people using the Wonder Lab.”
The Wonder Lab is a “digital learning space” featuring a green screen and filmmaking kit, a sound recording booth, and a digitalization station, as well as “technology kits” to help children and families learn coding and programming skills.
But it’s not the only unique offering you’ll find at Whistler’s library.
October is Canadian Library Month, and the WPL is taking the opportunity to showcase its diverse offerings—all available for free with a library card.
“I think it’s important for people to be aware that the library has so much more than just books,” Fenton said. “And in Whistler specifically, we are really proud of our Unusual Item collection, as an example.”
Among the WPL’s unusual items you’ll find things like sewing machines, bat-detector kits, board games and robotics, to name just a few items in the collection.
“I think that one of the key pieces that every library is trying to do is to continually grow and adapt to the needs of our communities, and fill that gap and be that equalizing force,” Fenton said. “Inclusivity is one of our central values, and so regardless of your socio-economic background, or where you come from, you can come to the library and you have the same access as everyone else in your community—and it just creates this really balancing tool for society.”
To that end, the library also hosts creative workshops, classes and groups; offers reliable access to computers and the internet; and opens its doors to the public during extreme weather events.
“We’re this community hub where people come together to connect and share ideas, participate in events, and through that act, we help to build social cohesion, and a sense of belonging,” Fenton said.
“And in the digital age, in particular, we just have this added responsibility where so many individuals may not have access to resources at home.”
Fenton is approaching one year as Whistler’s library director, a role she describes as a “dream come true.”
“The WPL has such an incredible team of competent, creative, passionate individuals who really care about the services that we provide and making an impact in our community, and it’s really inspiring to be a part of it,” she said, adding that Oct. 20 is Canadian Library Workers Day.
Though the Wonder Lab is still in its infancy, the WPL team is excited to see what Whistlerites dream up inside of it.
“Some of our most treasured community events like film festivals and programs through Arts Whistler really highlight that there is a huge portion of people in our community who are seeking more opportunities to be able to express themselves, and the kits that we offer are designed to be able to help that process and to help them get the tools that they need to see their projects come to life,” Fenton said.
“It’s been really interesting to see the range of projects as people discover the Wonder Lab and get to know what’s available.”
Check it out for yourself, as well as everything else on offer at the WPL, this October.
“Library cards are free,” Fenton said. “They’re open to everyone, and the best way to support your library is to have a card and to use it, and to visit us.”
Find more info at whistlerlibrary.ca.
