2013 ANNUAL REPORT MESSAGE FROM BOARD AND CEO
D
uring 2013 Fraser Valley Regional Library (FVRL) celebrated the culmination of much hard work, careful planning, and prudent, far-sighted investing that involved our staff, our customers, our member local governments, and our community partners.
A pinnacle of 2013 was Fraser Valley Regional Library’s celebration of an exceptional gift from the estate of acclaimed Canadian artist and Delta resident, the late William Allister (1919-2008). The International Collection of 19 large acrylic on canvas paintings, valued at nearly $160,000, was unveiled to the public for the first time on May 25, 2013 before a large, appreciative audience of library and art enthusiasts. Mona Allister, a sparkly exuberant senior, revealed her late husband’s paintings and opened a highly successful, summer-long exhibit at the Ladner Pioneer Library. Allister spent many hours visiting the Tsawwassen Library to enjoy the books and complete research for the paintings of his International Collection. As he neared the end of his life he discussed with his wife his wish that the paintings be accessible to the community. Remarkable for their bright colours and expression of lively spirits, Allister’s works gave him so much joy in his creative expression that he wanted ‘everyone’ to see them, and what better place than at his library to make his art available to people of all ages and walks of life. Allister knew that with 25 libraries in its system, FVRL could easily display the 19 large canvasses. Following the summer-long exhibit, the original works were placed on permanent display in seventeen FVRL locations to fulfill Allister’s wish that the public enjoy them. More wishes were fulfilled in Chilliwack with the grand opening of FVRL’s 25th library – the Sardis Library – on June 24, 2013. Featuring 10,600 square feet and a multi-purpose community space that can be accessed after library hours, the Sardis Library offers a comfortable adult area complete with fireplace, enticing children’s and youth areas, and the latest technology offerings for libraries, including self-checkouts and a cost-saving self-checkin system for book sorting. With the increased capacity at the Sardis Library, residents have demonstrated the investment was worthwhile, making this new library FVRL’s 6th busiest location. The flexible space opportunities taken in construction have positioned the library for any future.
Library and, at 11,000 square feet, it is almost three times the size of Centennial. A section of the library is the “school zone,” accessible to the general public only outside of school hours. Also part of the school/library complex is the Sweeney Neighbourhood Learning Centre, where offices of several local organizations are located. In addition to providing much needed library space for Abbotsford residents, Abbotsford Community Library brings students and the community together to share its extensive collection and computer resources. Obviously filling a need, it is FVRL’s 5th busiest location. FVRL’s member communities approved a change to the funding formula in 2013, which apportions the cost of providing library service by Fraser Valley Regional Library to its member municipalities and regional districts. The new funding formula was based upon five principles identified by municipal finance directors as important to all members: local control of direct charges; simpler, more efficient administration; maximum consistency and minimal fluctuations; predictability for five year planning; and adaptability to future changes. The new funding formula replaces an outdated, problematic formula and simplifies our funding while maintaining the spirit of fairness to our communities. Fraser Valley Regional Library, through its commitment to providing library service and programs that meet the needs of the communities we serve, has achieved successes that improve the quality of life of our customers. We extend our thanks to each person who has contributed to these achievements and, as we look to the future, are confident that the coming years promise even greater things to come.
Grant Ward
Another new FVRL library is Abbotsford Community Library, which held its grand opening on March 8, 2013. Built at Abbotsford Senior Secondary, as part of the school’s renovation, the new library replaces the MSA Centennial
Rob O’Brennan
Councillor Township of Langley and FVRL Chair
FVRL Chief Executive Officer
2013 FVRL BOARD
Coun. Grant Ward Township of Langley
Coun. Michael Wright Port Coquitlam
Coun. Ron Smith Hope
Coun. Helen Fathers White Rock
Coun. John Van Laerhoven Kent
Coun. Simon Gibson Abbotsford
Coun. Ted Schaffer City of Langley
Coun. Chuck Stam Chilliwack
Coun. Corisa Bell Maple Ridge
Coun. Jeannie Kanakos Delta
Coun. Jenny Stevens Mission
Director Ray Boucher FVRD
Coun. Doug Bing Pitt Meadows
Coun. Allan Jackson Harrison Hot Springs
Director Gayle Martin Metro Vancouver
FVRL AT A GLANCE
329,219
9,924
6,865
414,289
313,952
SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNITY
BOOKS DOWNLOADED
7,091,940 ITEMS LOANED
LIBRARY CARDHOLDERS
REFERENCE QUESTIONS
1,513,681
202,469
697,229
PROGRAMS OFFERED
WEBSITE VISITS
PROGRAM ATTENDANCE
1,447,470 HOLDS
SERVICE AREA POPULATION
WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM AND WHERE IT GOES $64,136
$118,138
RETURN ON INVESTMENTS (0.26%)
$3,334,384
DONATIONS/GRANTS (0.48%)
$1,413,054
AMORTIZATION (13.5%)
$262,665
PROVINCIAL GRANTS (5.7%)
$111,842
OTHER LIBRARY-BASED REVENUE (1%)
LIBRARY INTERLINK (0.45%)
$480,356
$2,838,025
FINES (2%)
$22,289,498
OPERATING EXPENSES (11.5%)
$858,361
MEMBER ASSESSMENTS (90.5%)
REVENUE TOTAL - $24,627,847
EXPENSES TOTAL - $24,649,860
LIBRARY MATERIALS (3.48%)
$17,507,248
SALARIES & BENEFITS (71%)
ALLISTER ART CELEBRATION & EXHIBIT
FVRL celebrated the receipt of an exceptional gift from the estate of acclaimed Canadian artist and Delta resident – the late William Allister (1919-2008). The International Collection of 19 large acrylic on canvas paintings, valued at nearly $160,000, was unveiled to the public for the first time in May 2013. The collection, featuring imaginative renderings and symbols highlighting the interconnection of cultures throughout history was exhibited at FVRL’s Ladner Pioneer Library from May through September, after which the paintings were moved to their permanent locations in various FVRL locations for the public’s viewing enjoyment as was William’s wish.
SARDIS LIBRARY
FVRL opened its 25th library in Sardis in May 2013. The 10,600 square foot facility features a multi-purpose community space that can be accessed after library hours, two self-checkouts, an adult area complete with a fireplace and a children’s area. In its first year, approximately 350,000 items have circulated at Sardis, close to 6,000 customers have attended over 200 programs, and staff have answered over 10,000 reference questions.
THANKS TO OUR DONORS Abbotsford Learning Plus Society Agassiz-Harrison Lions Club Sandra Barnet Canadian Parents for French Jean Carlson G. Margaret Cook Councillor Corisa Bell Marie-Luise Berryman Krystyna Bielecka Councillor Douglas Bing Sheila Block Director Ray Boucher Delta Low Vision Group Envision Financial – Yarrow Branch Carol Fee Fraser Valley Chapter of the MS Society of Canada
Friends of the Abbotsford Libraries Friends of the Chilliwack Libraries Irene Geng Simon Gibson – MLA Ilene Grant Gordon Graves Adelaide A. Heppner Lance Husoy Councillor Allan Jackson Councillor Jeannie Kanakos Louise Kovaks Mayor John Van Laerhoven Peggy & Harold Larsen Gord Lawson Ms. Yit Shang Lim Patricia Lorange
Stan Lovatt Marcy Lui Maple Ridge Better Breathers Director Gayle Martin Beverly McLaughlin Gillian McLeod Penny and Paul Nelson Linda Oakes Rob O’Brennan Esther Paine Rita Penco Rotary Club of Tsawwassen Earl Rowe Mayor Ted Schaffer Roger Sharman Councillor Ron Smith
Spectra Energy Transmission Stage 49 Ltd – Once Upon a Time Councillor Chuck Stam Councillor Jenny Stevens Annette Strom Eric Anders Strom Kathryn Swalwell Ken Swalwell John and Jo Tymoschuk Vancity Savings Credit Union Councillor Grant Ward Edith Weaver Councillor Michael Wright White Rock Philosopher’s Café