Surrey Public Library

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Surrey Public Library
Image:Surrey Public Library logo.jpg
Established 1983
Number of branches 9
Annual circulation 3.9 million[1]
Budget CA $11,202,000[2]
Director Beth Barlow [3]
Website www.spl.surrey.bc.ca

Surrey Public Library is a municipal public library that serves Surrey, British Columbia and the surrounding Lower Mainland.

According to the 2007 Annual Report, there are over 283,993 registered borrowers and over 2,212,000 people visited Surrey Public Library branches in 2007.


Contents

[edit] History

Surrey was a member of the Fraser Valley Regional Library. In 1982, Surrey held a referendum on the withdrawal from FVRL, which passed. On March 17, 1983, Surrey began operating as an independent municipal library.

2008 marks the 25th anniversary of the Surrey Public Library.

[edit] Locations

The library has nine branches:

[edit] Hours

  • Monday to Friday: 9:30 am - 9:00 pm
  • Saturday: 10:00am - 5:00 pm
  • Sunday: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm (Year round at Guildford, Whalley, Newton, Semiahmoo, Fleetwood, Strawberry Hill)
  • Port Kells: Check Hours Information Line at (604) 598-7300.

[edit] Programs

Surrey Public Library has services and programs for patrons of all ages.

Children are welcome to attend storytimes -- programs include babytime, toddler, preschool and family storytimes.
Teens are welcome to contribute to the Surrey Public Library teen blog, Letter Box[4]. 12 to 18 year olds can participate in the annual Young Adult Writing Contest. There are a variety of programs offered at each of the branches and may be subject to change.[5]
Adults are welcome at computer classes, job search workshops and other special presentations.

[edit] Genealogy

The Cloverdale Branch is notable for its extensive collection of Canadian genealogy resources, including books and microfilms. Located near the Surrey Archives, the Genealogy department offers a number of programs on genealogical research.[6]

A free orientation to the Genealogy collection is available from 9:30 am to 10:30 am on the first Saturday of every month.

[edit] 2008 Writer-In-Residence

As part of its 25th anniversary, Surrey Public Library is hosting its first ever writer-in-residence program. The current writer-in-residence is playwright and fiction writer Mansel Robinson.

[edit] 2008 Library Board

  • Chair: Wayne Webber
  • Vice Chair: Jas Cheema
  • Jay Bains
  • Carolyn Bugnon
  • Peter Leblanc
  • Muhammad Afzal Malik
  • Rani Mangat
  • Larry Onusko
  • Council Representative: Judy Higginbotham
  • Chief Librarian and Secretary of the Board: Beth Barlow

[edit] References

  1. ^ Annual Report 2006
  2. ^ Statement of Financial Information 2006
  3. ^ Current Board
  4. ^ letterboxspl.blog-city.com
  5. ^ Children's and Teens' Programs
  6. ^ Genealogy Programs

[edit] External links