Pay-It-Forward at Medicine Hat Public Library

Written by Chris Brown, Head of Marketing & Community Engagement

A simple and low-cost library card sponsorship option

Medicine Hat Public Library and the What Matters to Hatters Coalition want to bring the good vibes of the drive-thru and the coffee shop bulletin board into the library.

Library cards for adults used to cost $5 annually. Three years ago, MHPL started its A Library Card for Every Hatter campaign, which encourages businesses, community groups and individuals to sponsor library cards so that everyone in our community can, at no cost to them, access all of our great services. Many great businesses have stepped up to donate thousands of dollars over the years through the public sponsorship, and we know that will continue.

We’re hopeful community members will want to support the initiative on a smaller scale through our pay-it-forward sponsorship option.

For the next couple of months at least, when people register for a library card or renew their card, library staff be asking people if they would like to pay-it-forward. When we get to $1,000 in pay-it-forward donations we’ll put a sticker on the cards to show that these cards are free because of community members who paid it forward.

The idea fits well with the mission and vision of What Matters to Hatters, says coalition member Michelle Sauve.

“We think that it’s important as a community coalition to be engaged in our community and supporting local initiatives," she says. “We love our library and we host some events there and this is an opportunity for us to model paying back and paying it forward.”

A library card opens a world of possibilities to holders, everything from borrowing books on various formats to taking personal and professional development courses, and taking part in the various programs available for all ages. 

Visit mhpl.shortgrass.ca and click Become a Library Card Sponsor under the “I Want To…” tab for more information.

To learn more about the Medicine Hat Public Library visit mhpl.shortgrass.ca.

Visit the What Matters to Hatters Coalition Facebook page to learn more about the group and its initiatives.