Blackfalds Public Library - General Information

Board of Directors of the Blackfalds Public Library The Board of Directors meets the first Tuesday of each month at the library. Contact us for more information.

Carol Simpson joined the board in 2004 and is currently serving her second term as Chairperson. Carol has been a longtime user and enthusiast of libraries. She spent three years volunteering at the Stettler Public Library before she and her family moved to Blackfalds in 2001. Carol is currently involved with the Optimist Club of Blackfalds as a Director and the Blackfalds Agricultural Society as their Treasurer while working as a Chiropractic Assistant in Red Deer. Other pleasant addictions include reading, travel and football.	Richard Poole has rejoined the board as a council representative after a six year absence. As a resident of Blackfalds since 1979, Rick, Mary and the four children have all been long time members of the library and have benefited a great deal from the programs and services available. As a board member he looks forward to being part of a dynamic and progressive team that will continue to look for new ways to keep The Blackfalds Public Library a strong community builder and provider.

Judy Carleton joined the library board in the spring of 2005 and is a long term resident of the Blackfalds area. She wrote the history book for the town's 100th anniversary, called "Blackfalds Recollections". She is starting up the Blackfalds & Area Historical Society and she is very enthusiastic about preserving the history of the town and area. She lives a mile outside of town where she runs K-9 Acres Boarding Kennel.	Loretta Cooper moved to Blackfalds a year and half ago with her Husband Robert and their 11 year old son, Dennis. She was raised in the small village of Big Valley, thus central Alberta has always been her home. Loretta is an IT Support Person for Collins Barrow Red Deer LLP and previously worked for Parkland Regional Library in the same capacity. She understands the challenges that libraries face on a daily basis and is excited to become a board member. She is an avid reader herself and previously tutored other students in reading when she was student. She enjoys bike riding, skating, running, a good crib game and a multitude of other activities. She has been involved with various organizations in the past, namely Scouts Canada for the last six years.

Melodie Stol has been a council representative on our board since she was first elected in 1998. She is committed to libraries and also serves on the Parkland Regional Library board as well as several of its sub-committees. In this role, Melodie has been able to compare our library to others and is very proud of the high level of service in both programs and technology that the Blackfalds Library is able to provide.	Christy Watkins joined the board in the fall of 1998 and has also volunteered in other areas of the library, as well as with the local literacy organization. Christy teaches elementary school in a nearby town.
Staff Members of the Blackfalds Public Library

Darlene Marsh is our librarian and administrator and has been at the Blackfalds Public Library since 1989. She is an integral part of the library, and has seen many changes to it and the town during her time here. The library continues to develop and grow and it is wonderful to see Darlene's familiar face through all these changes. She is known and loved by members of her community for the exceptional service she provides. We look forward to many more wonderful years with her. Email Darlene through the general contact form on the front page.	Kathy Simmons is a desk clerk and technical services clerk at the Blackfalds Public Library. Prior to becoming a staff member, Kathy served three terms, totalling nine years, on the library board. In addition to this commitment, she has also volunteered over 6,000 hours at the library during the past several years.

Yvonne Ketcheson is a desk clerk at the Blackfalds Public Library. She has been working part-time at the library since 1995. She is also a volunteer with the Helpcare Society in Blackfalds.	Mark Schmiedl completed his university training in Fine Arts and then moved to Blackfalds in May 2006. He volunteered some time during the summer months to establish the Dia Deo Art Gallery. In September, he began working in his current position as the library’s Program Facilitator.

Patricia Hutchinson started as a library patron immediately following her move to Blackfalds in 2001. Since that time, she served on the board and in Sept of 2006, joined the staff. She and her husband are enjoying the small town atmosphere here and meeting new friends. They have a large grown family who also keep them busy and fulfilled. Patricia’s other hobbies include: quilting, reading and quilting…	Karen Corbier has been living in Blackfalds for several years and has been working at the library as Evening Assistant since October 2006. One of her favorite pastimes is reading. She says that the staff and customers are wonderful and that she loves working in the library.

Randy Nelson is our volunteer technical services expert. Contact Randy.	Melissa Walls is a summer student who handled the Summer Reading Program for 2004.