Fraser Valley Regional Library: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 23:01, 25 March 2009

History of Fraser Valley Regional Library

Established in 1930 in the Fraser Valley area of British Columbia, Canada, the Fraser Valley Regional Library (FVRL) system was the first of its kind in North America. It began serving residents in the early 1930s with the introduction of the Fraser Valley Book Van. The Book Van was the public library to the rural residents from Ladner to Hope. This travelling library, which displayed books along its outside shelves, travelled through the valley to small towns and villages stopping at grocery stores, schoolhouses, and gas stations. Each stop meant that the book collection would transform as books were borrowed, and returned. The Book Van system operated in conjunction with local libraries in located in the larger towns throughout the valley.

Today FVRL has 24 community locations serving 15 municipalities in the Fraser Valley region and has partnered with a variety of community-based and provincial organizations including Public Library InterLINK and BC OneCard to further increase range of services.

Founding

The idea of bringing the library to the rural population in BC began in 1927. The Provincial Public Library Commission organized a province-wide survey^[1] of library services in BC. The key finding from the survey was that large administrative library districts based on cooperation, and resource sharing between municipalities and school districts should be created to serve BC’s rural communities who could not afford to provide library service on their own. Based on this recommendation the Commission sought funding to carry out an initial trial project.

1930-1934 Demonstration Project

The Carnegie Corporation of New York awarded a grant of $100,000 to establish and maintain a rural library project for five years. After considering various regions of the province, the Commission selected the Fraser Valley as the site of BC’s book experiment. The Commission knew that it would require a dedicated effort to carryout the Demonstration Project. The library’s first director Dr. Helen Gordon Stewart successfully met this challenge. With enormous energy, Dr. Stewart went about organizing the district, selecting books, hiring staff, and purchasing a truck suitable for use as a book van. She personally visited councils and public meetings, convincing residents and politicians of the value of cooperation and resource sharing that would lead to a viable library system.

Covering an area of approximately 2,600 square kilometres, and containing 24 separate governing bodies the Fraser Valley Book Van made its first public appearance in July of 1930. Administrative headquarters for the project was located in New Westminster while Chilliwack served as the main distribution centre. The number of borrowers quickly soared, and six other libraries opened soon after.

Creation of the Fraser Valley Union Library

In order to continue library service to the Fraser Valley after the Carnegie funds were exhausted, residents were asked to vote whether they wished to support the library through local taxes. A referendum was scheduled for January 1934. The timing was difficult since taxpayers were asked to vote in favour of higher taxes during a severe economic depression. Dr. Stewart and her staff launched a massive campaign of public meetings, handouts, posters, and newspaper articles to gain support. Twenty of the original 24 areas voted "yes" and the Fraser Valley Union Library was created as the first regional library system in North America.

The resources of the Carnegie Demonstration Project were turned over to the new Library Board of Management on September 28, 1934, during a ceremony held in Chilliwack, BC. At this time Dr. Stewart left the Fraser Valley to organize other regional libraries. Soon after, the library headquarters was relocated to its present location in Abbotsford, BC.

In order to establish the first operating budget, board members voted a per capita tax rate of 35 cents. This low rate of support was a severe handicap to library service until 1950, when the rate was raised to 40 cents. Even with member municipalities providing rent-free facilities, the library system has always had a challenge of operating with one of the lowest tax levies in the province.

Present Day

In 1951, the official name was changed to the Fraser Valley Regional Library. This organization continues to serve the growing population of the region through a system of cooperation and resource sharing between its 24 community locations and its 15 member municipalities.

Collection

Awards

Year	Award	Giver
2006	Merit Award for Grades 4-5 Reading Link Challenge	BC Library Association
2006	Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Award in Marketing and Outreach	Abbotsford Community Services
2006	Innovator of the Year Award for launch of Live Homework Help	Tutor.com
2006	W. Kaye Lambe Award for Services to Seniors	Canadian Library Association and Ex Libris Association

Locations

FVRL has 24 community branches located in 15 municipalities.

Footnotes

^ 1927-1928 BC Library Survey

References

[1] 1927-1928 BC Library Survey

[1]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 == '''History of Fraser Valley Regional Library''' ==
-Established in 1930 in the [[Fraser Valley]] area of British Columbia, Canada, the Fraser Valley Regional Library (FVRL) system was the first of its kind in North America.
+Established in 1930 in the [[Fraser Valley]] area of British Columbia, Canada, the [http://www.fvrl.ca Fraser Valley Regional Library] (FVRL) system was the first of its kind in North America.
 It began serving residents in the early 1930s with the introduction of the Fraser Valley Book Van. The Book Van was the [[public library]] to the rural residents from Ladner to Hope. This travelling library, which displayed books along its outside shelves, travelled through the valley to small towns and villages stopping at grocery stores, schoolhouses, and gas stations. Each stop meant that the book collection would transform as books were borrowed, and returned. The Book Van system operated in conjunction with local libraries in located in the larger towns throughout the valley.