Spruce Grove Public Library Presents: Bibliotherapy Wellness Backpacks

The Cause

As a result of increasing accessibility and removing barriers to our programs and services, SGPL has partnered with many organizations in our community to better serve our residents. Based on the success of our Literacy Backpacks, one partnership project we are currently developing that would be enhanced greatly by additional funding is the creation of Wellness Backpacks in cooperation with and guidance from Alberta Mental Health staff and resources. These all-in-one kits provide individuals and families of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to improve their understanding of themselves and one another through interactive books, DVDs, CDs, toys, and games. Covering topics such as grief, depression, and suicide prevention, the information and activities encourage conversation and result in lasting connections between people and trusted engagement with our library.

Who Will it Benefit?

All visitors to our library will benefit from the in-library programs, services and resources. Residents of Spruce Grove and Parkland County are eligible for FREE library cards and will additionally benefit from the locally circulating additions to our collection. All other loan-able online and physical materials will circulate province wide benefiting all Albertans with a TRAC and/or ME library card. The numbers break down as follows: average physical visits to SGPL in a year = 130,000+; combined population of Spruce Grove and Parkland County = ~65,000; and the number of provincial cardholders is on the rise with more and more of our 4.23+ million residents realizing how important it is to have a library card.