Edmonton Public Library

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Edmonton Public Library
Country Canada
Established 1913
Location Edmonton, Alberta
Coordinates 53°32′35″N 113°29′23″W / 53.5430°N 113.4897°W / 53.5430; -113.4897Coordinates: 53°32′35″N 113°29′23″W / 53.5430°N 113.4897°W / 53.5430; -113.4897
Branches 17
Collection
Size 3,558,990 (2011)[1]
Access and use
Circulation 13,402,504 (2011)[1]
Population served 812,201 (2011)[1]
Other information
Budget $45,186,101 (2011)[1]
Director Linda Cook[2]
Website Edmonton Public Library

The Edmonton Public Library (EPL) is a publicly funded library system in the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, available for use by any member of the public. Children are eligible for free library cards, while adults pay an annual fee (though this fee can be waived on request). To celebrate its centennial, the Edmonton Public Library has eliminated the adult membership fee on cards registered or renewed between March 13th, 2013 and March 13th, 2014.[3] University of Alberta and MacEwan University students can receive free access using the L-Pass program.[4][5] In 2011, more than 14.3 million visits were made to the Edmonton Public Library.[1]

Collection

EPL has more than three million items in its collection including books, CDs, DVDs, magazines, video games, and online resources.[1] There are 17 branches, the oldest of which is the Old Strathcona Branch (opened in 1913) and the newest is the brand new Jasper Place Branch, opened in 2013 (it replaced the branch formerly at that location).

History

The Stanley A. Milner Library in downtown Edmonton is the main library building, and was opened in 1967. It replaced a Carnegie-funded library built in 1923, which sat on the site now occupied by Telus Plaza. The new library was originally named the "Centennial Library" in honour of the Canadian Centennial in 1967. The building occupies the former site of Market Square, Edmonton's main square and home of the city market from 1900 to 1965. In 1942, Edmonton had a streetcar as a bookmobile; the last bookmobile in Edmonton was in 1991.[6] Strathcona built the first library in the combined city in 1913.[7]

Services

In addition to a large collection of items, the Stanley A. Milner Library offers services to people with special needs including: braille materials, large-print materials, talking books, descriptive DVDs and home service for shut-ins. It also offers assistive technologies for customers such as: TTY for the deaf, closed circuit TVs that enlarge or enhance print, magnifiers, specialized software, LEAP computer work stations, and alternative keyboards.[8]

EPL delivers free programs and events for preschoolers, children, teens, and adults in all of its branches. Program information is provided in the "Library Guide" printed three times per year, and through the EPL website.[9]

  • Information and reference services
  • Access to full text databases
  • Community information
  • Internet access
  • Reader's advisory services
  • Programs for children, youth and adults
  • Delivery to homebound individuals
  • Interlibrary loan
  • Free downloadable audiobooks
  • Hoopla, an online book/movie/audiobook database, similar to Netflix, but with a limit of 10 downloads/month and the fact that you must have a card from a participating library to use.

Partnerships

The Edmonton Public Library maintains partnerships with the University of Alberta, Edmonton Public Schools, Edmonton Catholic Schools, the Centre for Family Literacy, the Arts District, and Edmonton Transit System. Each branch is assigned a regional list of public and catholic schools for which is provides many services. EPL also works with community groups such as the Mennonite Centre for Newcomers, Multicultural Health Brokers and a variety of literacy-based organizations.

EPL is a member of "The Alberta Library" (TAL), a province-wide system that allows access to material from every member library in Alberta.[10]

Branches

Old Strathcona Branch of Edmonton Public Library.

Edmonton Public Library currently has 17 branches across Edmonton.[11] Two new branches are scheduled to open in 2014 as part of new community recreation centres in Clareview Town Centre and The Meadows, which combine library branches with sports and recreation centres. As well, two existing branches are currently being rebuilt. The new Jasper Place branch is expected to open in February 2013, with the Highlands branch in the fall of 2013.[12][13] The current branches are:

  • Stanley A. Milner Library (main library)
  • Abbottsfield - Penny McKee Branch
  • Calder Branch
  • Capilano Branch
  • Castle Downs Branch
  • eplGo (within the University of Alberta's Cameron Library)
  • Highlands Branch
  • Idylwylde Branch
  • Jasper Place Branch (destroyed and re-built in 2013)
  • Lois Hole Branch
  • Londonderry Branch
  • Mill Woods Branch
  • Old Strathcona Branch
  • Riverbend Branch
  • Sprucewood Branch
  • Whitemud Crossing Branch
  • Woodcroft Branch

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Edmonton Public Library 2011 Annual Report". Edmonton Public Library. March 15, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2013. 
  2. ↑ "Edmonton Public Library Directors". Edmonton Public Library. Retrieved February 19, 2013. 
  3. ↑ "Get a Library Card - FOR FREE". Edmonton Public Library. Retrieved 2013-03-26. 
  4. ↑ "Edmonton Public Library Partnership". University of Alberta Libraries. Retrieved 2010-11-14. 
  5. ↑ https://library.macewan.ca/lpass
  6. ↑ Grabar, Henry. "Lost Treasure of the Day: Edmonton's Streetcar Bookmobile". The Atlantic Cities. Atlantic Media Company. 
  7. ↑ First annual report of the Edmonton Public Library and Strathcona Public Librar. Edmonton. 1913. 
  8. ↑ "Assistive Services | Edmonton Public Library". Epl.ca. Retrieved 2010-11-14. 
  9. ↑ "Programs and Events | Edmonton Public Library". Epl.ca. Retrieved 2010-11-14. 
  10. ↑ "Services". The Alberta Library. Retrieved 2010-11-14. 
  11. ↑ "Branches & Hours". Edmonton Public Library. Retrieved February 19, 2013. 
  12. ↑ "Building Projects | Edmonton Public Library". Edmonton Public Library. Epl.ca. Retrieved February 19, 2013. 
  13. ↑ "Striking roof adds grace to new Jasper Place library". Edmonton Journal. Postmedia Network. January 28, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2013. 

See also

External links

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