Colin Evans, Head Librarian/Branch Manager of North Battleford Library poses in the newly renovated theatre room located in the long served North Battleford Library on Aug. 12, 2024 (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Kenneth Cheung

modernised library theatre

North Battleford Library and BATC collaborate to modernize theatre room

Aug 12, 2024 | 4:03 PM

North Battleford Library recently renovated its theatre room in partnership with the Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs (BATC). This is a step towards modernizing a space that has long served the city.

The renovation, which included installing advanced theatre equipment, such as high-quality video players for Blu-rays, new audio systems, and other essential equipment, has significantly enhanced the community’s overall experience.

The BATC donated $10,000 to the library through the Community Development Corporation.

“The library is integral to North Battleford. It’s one of the biggest resources here, so I think it was a no-brainer to assist them with what they need for continued partnerships and relationship building. Also, to see the success of their theatre room being more utilized going forward,” Jordon Weenie, BATC’s program manager, said.

These upgrades have resolved previous connectivity and sound issues, ensuring an enjoyable viewing and listening experience.

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Colin Evans, head librarian/branch manager of North Battleford Library, said It brings much-needed services to the downtown core, providing high-quality meeting rooms for programs and activities right in the heart of North Battleford.

“When I started, the theatre equipment hadn’t been updated for some time, so we had connectivity issues. We couldn’t stream media from the theatre booth and play high-quality video on Blu-rays, and we also had some sound issues cutting in and cutting out at times. So we determined that we needed to upgrade the equipment,” Evans said.

The original audio system can be traced back to the late 1900s.

Evans explained this renovation opens up a world of possibilities. The new equipment could enhance programming, enable online Zoom meetings and high-quality broadcasting, and usher in a new era of community engagement.

“I’m excited to see it evolve and grow for the community; after all, we’re here for the people, and we’re here to help them,” Weenie said.

Weenie also mentioned that they built a strong relationship with the library because BATC started using it more due to its diverse resources and event spaces.

“The library is not just about books. It also offers a theatre room for engaging with others and a boardroom that can be rented for around 50 bucks. The library is awesome, and more people should know about it,” he said.