Fundraiser begins Monday to ensure Brainfuse remains available

A fundraising campaign kicks off Monday, Dec. 5 to help ensure Brainfuse remains available for Cochrane Public Library members.

The campaign is being launched in partnership with the Rotary Club of Cochrane and the Rocky Mountain Rotary Club. The library is accepting donations online until Dec. 21 to continue to provide the valuable online resource.

The library subscribed to Brainfuse in the fall of 2020 in response to when schools went virtual during the pandemic, explains assistant director Jessie Pepin. To assist them in their studies, the library wanted to make live tutoring available for the students.

"It just seems to be growing every year and people are using it and appreciating it. It's free with your library card," she says, "and tutoring at the high school level can be about $40 to $50 per hour, so this makes sure that people have equitable access to the tutoring that they need."

"Brainfuse is wonderful because it provides job support, Canadian citizenship prep, high school equivalency prep, and live tutoring to the Alberta curriculum," says library assistant director Jessie Pepin.

The live tutoring is available daily from 2 to 11 p.m.

Starting Monday, people can contribute by clicking on the link on the library's website that jumps them to Benevity.

"We're doing this through Benevity because it's through ATB Cares, and they will match 20 per cent of every dollar raised, so even if you can contribute even $5 it can add up quickly."

The library may have to consider dropping its Brainfuse subscription if they don't raise enough funds.

"We need the support, and we want to continue offering it," says Pepin. "We need everyone's help to do that."

The Rotary clubs have stepped up to help promote the fundraiser both in the community and within their memberships.

Brainfuse was established in 1999 by co-founder and director Alex Sztuden. It has been recognized by the Modern Library Awards, winning platinum three years in a row for its HelpNow program, acknowledging exceptional services and products within the library community.

Click here to connect with the library.