Circulation continued to grow during the 15th anniversary of the library.

The Library Board decided to pursue getting space and funding for a video collection. 

The town council decided that all local Boards of Commission needed to change their members more frequently.  Consequently, the Library Board began a system of regular turnover.

The town of Steinbach gave a grant of $5000 to Library to begin a video collection.

The library's facilities did not offer adequate space for its growing collection.

The Library Board broached the idea of purchasing security equipment because of the continued loss of material due to theft.  Because of the high cost of such a purchase, it was infessible at the time.

A complete inventory in undertaken update the card catalogue and to discover exactly how many materials had been lost. Older, unused materials were also removed from circulation.

JUNE - The video collection was catalogued and ready for circulation.  The patron response was overwhelmingly positive.

NOVEMBER - A book sale at Clearspring Mall was held to sell all the books that had been removed from library circulation.

The Library partnered with a literacy group to assist women in learning English as a second language

The audio record collection was removed.  Children's cassette tapes continued in circulation.

The Royal Bank increased the Library's line of credit to establish a positive cash flow in the beginning of the year before funding is granted.  The Library Board also decided to retain a surplus each to be used the following year to decrease the amount of interest the Library paid to the bank.

Video cameras were installed in public areas of the building so they could be monitered from inside the Library.

For the first time, circulation numbers did not increase.

Due to an overwhelming request from the community, hours of operation were increased even though there was not an increase in the budget.

Mon-Wed          1:00pm-9:00pm

Thu-Fri             10:00am-9:00pm

Saturday         10:00am-4:00pm

The Library was housed on the second floor of an old school building.  The space was not adequate for shelving or staffing needs and the community began discussing the need for additional space.

The library continued its computer cross-over.

Provencial work-experience program allowed the Library to offer a Summer Reading Program for elementary school children.

For the first time in many years, circulation numbers decreased.

As data entry neared completion, the staff began the huge undertaking of physically putting a barcode in all the books.  (There were over 35,000.)

Patron's old paper library cards were replaced with new plastic, barcoded cards that referenced the patron data base.

Funding from the Computer Access Program (CAP) bought a public access terminal so people could make use of certain public bulletin boards.  CAP-Youth Initiative also provided an employee who helped instruct others on the use of the terminal.

OCTOBER 2nd - The Library officially became automated.  The ability of new software to track due dates and compile reports saved the staff hours of paper work.

The Town Council decided that a new library building would be part of the Steinbach Anniversary Project. 

"Friends of the Library" was formed.  In partnership with the Library Board, they raised funds for the new library.

MAY 7th - JUNE 16th - The Steinbach Public Library closed in preparation to move to its new location.  Businesses and private individuals thoughout the community volunteered time and materials to help with the move.

JUNE 21st - Official Grand Opening of the Jake Epp Library.  Jake Epp, former High School Teacher and MP of Provencher, the man who appointed the very first Library Board, was in attendance for a ribbon cutting ceremony.  Mary Barkman, a key figure in the founding of the Library, was honored.   A record 2,218 items were checked out on this day. (The previous record had only been 1,200.) 

The Library increased its hours of operation to include Sundays.

Sunday              1:00pm-5:00pm

Two additional public access computesr were added.  The CAP intern continued to provide internet training to members of the community.

Near the end of the year, Simone Penner stepped in as interim Librarian after Val Kasper was asked to resign.

MARCH - Irmy Nikkel became the Head Librarian.

The Library began increasing its community events.

The Jake Epp Library began a drive to gather donated books for the Grand Forks library after all their books were lost in a flood.

Books by Canadian Authors received a Maple Leaf sticker to highlight them for patrons.

Due to Budget constraints, hours on Sundays and Friday evenings were discontinued.

At the beginning of the year Irmy Nikkel left to take up a new position elsewhere.  Simone Penner filled in as interim librarian again, but was hired to the position permanently by the fall.

A reading garden was planned to honor Melvin C. Toews, a man who had served for many years on the Library Board and had been a passionate library supporter.

Thanks in part to outside funding, a Bookmobile service was offered to local Seniors' Residences.

JUNE - The Melvin C. Toews Reading Garden was completed.

Library Programs (Summer Reading Program, Story Hour, CAP Training, etc.) continued to grow.