FVRL 2012 Annual Report by Fraser Valley Regional Library

ABBOTSFORD COMMUNITY LIBRARY AGASSIZ LIBRARY ALDERGROVE LIBRARY BOSTON BAR LIBRARY BROOKSWOOD LIBRARY CHILLIWACK LIBRARY CITY OF LANGLEY LIBRARY CLEARBROOK LIBRARY FORT LANGLEY LIBRARY GEORGE MACKIE LIBRARY HOPE LIBRARY LADNER PIONEER LIBRARY MAPLE RIDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY MISSION LIBRARY MOUNT LEHMAN LIBRARY MURIEL ARNASON LIBRARY

annual report

MURRAYVILLE LIBRARY PITT MEADOWS PUBLIC LIBRARY SARDIS LIBRARY TERRY FOX LIBRARY TSAWWASSEN LIBRARY WALNUT GROVE LIBRARY WHITE ROCK LIBRARY YALE LIBRARY YARROW LIBRARY

LIBRARY LIVE AND ON TOUR™ Smitty Miller & Rick Hansen

MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR AND CEO

sing innovative approaches that embraced technological advances, in 2012 Fraser Valley Regional Library focused strategically on keeping libraries relevant in the future and being a vital resource, destination and partner in the communities we serve. Two new libraries opened to replace aging facilities, nearly doubling the size of Pitt Meadows Library and tripling the size of Abbotsford Community Library. These libraries were the first FVRL libraries to convert from bar codes to radio frequency identification tags (RFID) for their collections, thereby eliminating manually checking library materials in and out. Abbotsford Community Library was designed as a joint public/school library at Abbotsford Senior Secondary School, and the 4000 square feet of space used for the school library during the day becomes available to the public after school hours. In March FVRL and the City of Chilliwack broke ground for FVRL’s 25th library—the new Sardis Library, a 10,6000 square foot facility on the south side of Chilliwack. Adjacent to several recreational facilities, the Sardis Library is designed to serve as a community hub and includes a multi-purpose community space that offers access to the outside and after-hours use. Planned to open in Spring 2013, it becomes the third FVRL library to adopt RFID tags. In April FVRL launched Library Live and On Tour™, a new and original mobile adult literacy initiative that takes the library to people who do not know about libraries or have some obstacle to visiting them. Fondly known as LiLi, the Library Live and On Tour™ vehicle is an attention-getting, souped-up 2012 Nissan Cube that is used for public relations and community development, including service to marginalized members of FVRL communities. In direct response to the need LiLi identified through community development contacts, FVRL introduced an innovative new Community Card program, issuing temporary library cards to people with no fixed address. Reducing barriers such as stigmatization, lack of knowledge, and lack of interest, LiLi also had an unexpectedly deep emotional impact on underserved people. With technological advances and digital formats gaining popularity, questions often are asked about the future of libraries. Will libraries be relevant to our cities in 20 years? Questions like this were

MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR AND CEO among those addressed at Fraser Valley Regional Library’s one-day conference titled The Future of Libraries and Cities with top-rated futurist Thomas Frey. Held October 23, 2012, Frey spoke to over 250 influencers about technological developments and their impact upon cities and libraries. Library board members and management, local governments, educators, community partners, and local leaders from across BC and Washington, were urged to identify possibilities and discover strategies to create a future that ensures libraries remain relevant to our changing cities in the future. Innovation, combined with technology and creative partnerships, was the hallmark that distinguished FVRL’s library service throughout 2012. Maximizing opportunities with our local governments and community partners, FVRL proved its relevance to customers and communities, and now is resolved to create a future that maintains libraries as a vital resource, destination, and partner in the communities we serve. GRANT WARD Councillor Township of Langley and FVRL Chair

ROB O’BRENNAN FVRL Chief Executive Officer

2012 FVRL BOARD FVRL is governed by a board of directors. Board members are elected officials of its member municipalities.

Coun. Grant Ward Coun. Michael Wright Coun. Helen Fathers (Township of Langley) (Port Coquitlam) (White Rock)

Coun. Simon Gibson (Abbotsford)

Coun. Ken Huttema Coun. Jeannie Kanakos Director Bill Dickey (Chilliwack) (Delta) (FVRD)

Coun. Zoltan Kiss (Harrison Hot Springs)

Coun. Ron Smith (Hope)

Mayor John Van Laerhoven (Kent)

Coun. Jenny Stevens (Mission)

Coun. Teri James (City of Langley)

Coun. Doug Bing (Pitt Meadows)

Coun. Corisa Bell (Maple Ridge)

Director Gayle Martin (Metro Vancouver)

Coun. Ted Schaffer (City of Langley) | Coun. Allan Jackson (Harrison Hot Springs) July - December 2012

FVRL AT A GLANCE

PEOPLE + ITEMS + PLACES

BACKGROUND

Who We Are FVRL is the largest public library system in British Columbia. We serve over 680,000 people through 25 community libraries. We are a hub for community connections and culture. With a mission “to connect people to the world of information and ideas,” we play a prominent role in communities throughout the Fraser Valley. FVRL’s customer base includes all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. To our diverse customers, we offer free: • access to popular and relevant materials through a “floating collection” of over 1.3 million items; • information and referral services delivered by knowledgeable staff; • programming that reflects community priorities and interests, including some presented in collaboration with community partners; and • 24/7 online services, including access to eBooks and other online resources.

FVRL is governed by a board of directors and financially supported by our member municipalities. Our board members are elected officials of our member municipalities. We are funded by our member municipalities and through a Government of BC operating grant. FVRL has created unique costsaving partnerships with its member municipalities. Operating expenses are kept low through shared centralized purchasing, administrative and programming services. Staffing, collections, information technology (IT) and other library service costs are shared among member municipalities and apportioned through a member-created funding formula. For example, cost savings are realized by having a centrally based IT department providing stable and secure IT infrastructure for the 25 libraries and administrative centre. IT, like all departments, is constantly seeking opportunities and solutions to enhance IT services to both customers and staff.

BACKGROUND

FVRL’s buildings, with the exception of the Administrative Centre, are planned, owned and maintained by their municipalities. Each of our libraries has its own local flair — reflecting the unique characteristics of the communities they serve. Operating and services agreements between FVRL and its member municipalities outline who is responsible for each of the various aspects of operating the libraries. FVRL maintains a highly trained, friendly and dedicated staff. We are focused on providing excellent customer service. We develop our staff by offering various career development initiatives and education opportunities, including support for staff attending programs such as Library Technician and Masters of Library Information Sciences.

Our Mission To connect people to the world of information and ideas.

Our Vision To be an innovative organization that is recognized as a vital community destination and resource for literacy, recreation, and informed decision-making.

Our Values • • • • •

community development universal access respect for diversity respect for staff collaboration and partnerships • innovation and risk-taking

THE SYSTEM CITY OF

ABBOTSFORD Population: 141,000 • Clearbrook Library • Abbotsford Community • Mount Lehman Library TOWNSHIP OF

LANGLEY

Population: 107,177 • Aldergrove Library • Brookswood Library • Fort Langley Library • Muriel Arnason Library • Murrayville Library • Walnut Grove Library DISTRICT OF

MAPLE RIDGE CORPORATION

OF DELTA Population: 101,299 • George Mackie Library • Ladner Pioneer Library • Tsawwassen Library

Population: 79,104 • Maple Ridge Public Library CITY OF

CHILLIWACK Population: 88,302 • Chilliwack Library • Yarrow Library • Sardis Library CITY OF PORT

COQUITLAM 10

Population: 58,051 • Terry Fox Library

THE SYSTEM DISTRICT OF

CITY OF

Population: 42,763 • Mission Library

Population: 19,339 • White Rock Library

WHITE ROCK

MISSION

CITY OF

LANGLEY Population: 26,826 • City of Langley Library CITY OF

PITT MEADOWS Population: 18,891 • Pitt Meadows Public Library DISTRICT OF KENT SERVING THE VILLAGE OF HARRISON

HOT SPRINGS Population: • 6,173 (Kent) • 1 ,694 (Harrison Hot Springs) • Agassiz Library

DISTRICT OF

HOPE

Population: 8,110 • Hope Library fraser valley regional district:

YALE

BOSTON BAR

Population: 186 • Yale Library

Population: 860 • Boston Bar Library

11 All population figures are estimates based on recently reported statistics. http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/

DONORS

Our Thanks!

 Abbotsford Community Services  Abbotsford Genealogical Society  Abbotsford Learning Plus Society  Agassiz Library Society  Agricultural Workers Alliance – Abbotsford  Marian G. Balint  Canadian Executive Services Overseas  Charlesworth Insurance Services Ltd.  Chilliwack Friends of the Library  Chilliwack Learning Community Society  Mr. and Mrs. Fred St. Claire  Mary Cooley  Debra Cornish  Dashmesh Foods and Video – Abbotsford  Delta Community Literacy Committee  Delta Friends of the Library  Delta Low Vision Group  Janice Dodd  Jocelyn Donald  Envision Financial – Town Centre Branch  Envision Financial – Yarrow Branch  Ethos Career Management Group Ltd.  Richard Foth  Betty Fung

                             

Irene Geng Yvonne Gerlach Councillor Simon Gibson Balbir Singh Gill Ilene Grant Phil and Elaine Halladay Scott Hargrove Barbara Hasler Erika Hennings Adelaide Heppner Margaret Holter Hope Friends of the Library HSM Mobile Truck Repair Kimberly Jansen Hyung Jeon – Time Academy Elizabeth Kernohan Langley-Willoughby Women’s Community Institute Ms. Yit Shang Li Malwa Auto Repair Ltd. Margaret Mantel Maple Ridge Better Breathers Club Maple Ridge City Council Beta Sigma Phi Maple Ridge Friends of the Library Barbara Lafresnaye Marcy Lui Bonnie Maximuk Joseph Mikita Mission Friends of the Library National Mortgage Services Inc. – Abbotsford Robert O’Brennan

                          

Overwaitea Foods Group Pen and Inklings Rita Penco Prospera Credit Union – Abbotsford Shelley A. Reid Jack Renwick Shirley Ruddick Helen Schoenbach Mr. and Mrs. Marv Schroeder Roger Sharman Sandra Smith Dr. Helmet Sohmen – The Billings Trust Spectra Entergy Transmission Angela Spitz Annette Strom Kathryn Swalwell Joyce Trimble Jo Tymoschuk United Way of the Fraser Valley M. Lynn Vandevelde Frances Vansanten Dawn Waugh Barbara White Heldegarde Wells Lara West White Rock Friends of the Library White Rock Philosopher’s Café

TERRY FOX LIBRARY, PORT COQUITLAM Photo by Albert Normandin

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

14 16

SARDIS LIBRARY GRAND OPENING Photo by Emily Kessler

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Statement of Operations and Accumulated Surplus Year ending December 31, 2012, with comparative figures for 2011:

revenue Member assessments Fine revenue Other library-based revenue Federal government grants Provincial government grants Other donations and grants Return on investments

expenditures Salaries and benefits Library materials Operating expenses Library Interlink Amortization of tangible capital assets

2012 budget

2012 actual

2011 actual

21,364,565 715,865 400,218 8,000 1,410,695 149,994 11,000

21,931,708 497,300 434,252 9,500 1,484,157 163,573 33,611

19,359,553 569,254 509,370 9,285 1,543,551 21,426 43,738

24,060,337

24,554,101

22,056,177

16,588,616 840,582 3,094,036 135,000

16,331,940 614,661 2,974,270 115,768

15,477,019 762,140 2,806,103 129,972

3,134,355

3,046,459

23,792,589

23,170,994

22,221,693

annual surplus (deficit) accumulated surplus, beginning of year

267,748

1,383,107

(165,516)

10,203,725

10,369,241

accumulated surplus, end of year

10,471,473

11,586,832

10,203,725

Fraser Valley Regional Library Administrative Centre 34589 DeLair Road Abbotsford, British Columbia v2s 5yi Telephone: 604-859-7141 Toll free (within bc): 1-888-668-4141