It may surprise you to hear the unexpected ways that libraries are serving their communities; offerings like yoga classes, radon screening kits, and active living equipment are just some examples. There are many ways that libraries support the health and well-being of community members and the addition of 26 light therapy lamps falls into this category. The lamps are available to borrow at 26 of Chinook Arch’s member libraries and have many user benefits.

Light therapy is an effective treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and other conditions. It is exposure to light that is brighter than indoor light but not as bright as direct sunlight and is usually prescribed for about 30 minutes a day. You simply place the lamp a certain distance from you and then sit in front of it as you read, eat breakfast, or work at a computer. Therapy is usually started in the fall and continued through spring. Many people feel better within days of using the light every morning.

“Libraries offer value beyond words,” says Robin Hepher, CEO of Chinook Arch. “Today’s public library offers all kinds of tools to help people lead a better life, and this collection of SAD lamps is just one way we’re working with local public libraries to make unique resources available in communities across southwestern Alberta.”

Beyond providing unique items for library users to borrow, Chinook Arch also looks to form partnerships with community organizations that share common goals. In this case, Alberta Health Services (AHS) was a perfect fit. As a trusted resource for health information and supports, AHS provided information on the value that the light therapy lamps could provide to people across the region.

“As a community, all of us have the power to help one another and support the mental health of those around us,” says Thomas Mountain, Senior Operating Officer Addiction and Mental Health for AHS South Zone. “Initiatives like the one launched by Chinook Arch are an impressive display of how an organization can play a part in supporting community members across the region.”

Light therapy lamps are available to borrow from the libraries located in these communities: Arrowwood, Barnwell, Cardston, Carmangay, Champion, Claresholm, Coaldale, Coutts, Crowsnest Pass, Fort Macleod, Glenwood, Grassy Lake, Hays, Lomond, Lethbridge, Magrath, Milk River, Milo, Nanton, Picture Butte, Pincher Creek, Stirling, Vauxhall, Vulcan, Warner, and Wrentham. (Photos below are library users from Cardston using the lamps.)