The Weyburn Public Library held their annual general meeting on Mar. 6, during which Chair Dianne Sander commented in her report that 2006 was a very busy year for the library.

Check-outs of material from the library for 2006 totalled 88,443, down from 2005 total of 103,590. However patron registrations went up to 419 in 2006 from the total of 352 in 2005. Renewals for 2006 were 9,281, down from the 11,704 in 2005.

Kam Teo, librarian for the Weyburn Public Library, commented, "It is not fair to compare the numbers from 2006 to the numbers of 2005, as there were two librarians in 2005 and a gap of information from when one left and the other adjusted to their new surroundings. There will be a much better comparison of numbers when we compare 2007 to 2006."

The end of 2006 saw the start of the Library Evaluation Assessment Project (LEAP), the purpose of which is to assess community organizations, agencies and groups which may relate to library services in terms of services provided, clientele or materials provided.

There were a number of "Lunch and Learns" held throughout 2006, that were open to the public in the purpose of bringing presenters to discuss topics of interest to the business community in Weyburn. This program will continue in 2007.

As well 2006 was the 40th anniversary of the Southeast Regional Library System and the Weyburn branch joined other branches in the system in celebrating this milestone.

"We have had some challenges throughout the year," stated Teo, "but we are picking up some momentum."

Throughout 2006 the library hosted several well-known authors, who each presented readings from their books. In April, Ormond and Barbara Mitchell, the son and daughter-in-law of Weyburn's own W.O. Mitchell, returned to Weyburn to do an author reading of Volume 2 of their biography of W.O.

In July, Pamela Porter, Governor General Award-winning author, read from her book 'The Crazy Man', which is about a Weyburn-area teenager in the 1960s. In October Sandra Birdsell, nominated twice for the Governor General's Award, ready from her latest book 'Children of the Day'.

During Library Week (October 16-24) the library hosted author Arthur Slade, Governor General Award winning author, to read from his book 'Megiddo's Shadow', which later won the Saskatchewan Book Award in December.

There were some changes to the long-time services and in the process of disbanding or disposal of assets the library was a beneficiary of some donations.

The library received a donation of a microfilm reader from the Weyburn Rotary Club, Quota International of Weyburn gave support to the Toy Lending Library, Weyburn Young Fellows donated a digital projector, Dairy Queen and Weyburn Co-op continued to assist with the summer reading program and there was support from the Pharmasave and individual donations throughout the year.