Edmonton Public Library

Edmonton Public Library
Country Canada
Established 1913
Location Edmonton, Alberta
Coordinates 53°32′35″N 113°29′23″W / 53.5430°N 113.4897°WCoordinates: 53°32′35″N 113°29′23″W / 53.5430°N 113.4897°W
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. Library cards are free to all Edmontonians. As part of its centennial, the Edmonton Public Library eliminated membership fees on cards registered in 2013 and customers who have registered since.[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 will be the new Millwoods and Calder branches, opening in 2015.

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 those unable to visit the library. 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]

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 18 branches across Edmonton.[11] Two new branches opened 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. Also in 2014, the eplGo branch closed. The new Jasper Place and Highlands branches opened in 2013. On April 20, 2015, it announced that the Millwoods Branch will open on May 4, 2015 replacing the current one in Millwoods Town Centre. This branch closed on May 1, 2015. Also, the Calder Branch will be moving to a new location on May 19, 2015. The current branches are:

Former branches

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Edmonton Public Library 2011 Annual Report" (PDF). 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.

See also

External links