Our Mission
To provide all who inquire with friendly, efficient, and effective library services to assist in meeting present and future information and educational challenges.

Our History
At the meeting on October 3, 1950 the Cochrane Home and School Association decided to sponsor a library in Cochrane. Nan Boothby and Vola McPherson were chosen to organize the new library. They, in turn, chose Amy Callaway and Grace Oldfield as assistants. These four women became the first library staff, with Vola McPherson serving as Librarian. A room in the basement of the Community Hall was offered by the Town Council. Lights and fuel were supplied by the town, and books were donated by townspeople. At a tea on November 24, 1950, the Cochrane Association Public Library was opened. All work then, and for many years to come, was done on a volunteer basis. It was often very cold in the little basement room, and it had no windows. The first official Library Board was formed in January 1951.

The Nan Today
The Nan Boothby Memorial Library (the “Library”) was constituted under the Libraries Act (1983) of The Province of Alberta. The Library, as a registered charity, is exempt from income tax and may issue receipts to donors for tax deductible donations. We are a not-for-profit organization that derives its revenues from donations and fees and fines.

The Town of Cochrane (the “Town”) owns the Library building which the Library uses at no charge. The Town provides annual funding to cover the cost of general and administrative expenses of the Library.

Collection Size: 37,029 / Subscriptions: 85 magazines 11 newspapers / Movies (DVDs VHS): 861 / Audio Books: 718 / Circulation (2006): 104,514 / Card Holders: 2,172 / Annual Visits to the Library (2006): 65,848 / Public Computer Stations: 8 / Program Sessions (2006): 227

Monday 10-5 / Tuesday 10-8 / Wednesday 10-8 / Thursday 10-8 / Friday 10-5 / Saturday 10-5/ Sunday 12-5 (closed Sundays July and August)

Resident

Interlibrary Loans / Computer 1-On-1 / DVDs and CDs / Best Sellers / Story Times / Children and Adult Programs / Meeting Room / FAX Services / Internet and Computer Access / WI-FI Access / Writer-In-Residence / Reference Information / Readers Advisory