High River has a new Library Director.

Mary Zazelenchuk takes over from longtime director Deb Gardner who has retired.

Zazelenchuk came to High River after five years as Library Manager in Stettler.

"To tell you the truth, I kind of applied just as 'Let's see what happens sort of thing and then all of a sudden there were decisions to be made," she says. "But all in all I thought it was a fortunate thing."

She checked out the town before she took the job and likes what she's seen of the post-flood recovery and the arts and culture dynamic in the town.

Zazelenchuk says libraries are very much a people field.

"I've always loved to read, which I think you'll find is a common thread with people who chose to work in libraries, but beyond that it's the community element," she says. "Libraries have been changing significantly in the past 15 to 20 years I would say in terms of implementation of new technology, in terms of community outreach and trying to encourage different types of users because the library is a community space and a learning space which can include books but doesn't necessarily always include books."

She says the library has good programming going forward including its digital conversion project.