Surrey Libraries

Surrey Public Library (operating as Surrey Libraries)
Established1983
Branches10
Collection
Items collectedbooks, e-books, music, cds, periodicals, maps, genealogical archives, business directories, local history,
Size790,000 [1]
Access and use
Circulation4 million [2]
Population served580,000
Other information
BudgetCA $20 million [3]
DirectorSurinder Bhogal, Chief Librarian
Employees260
Websitewww.surreylibraries.ca

Surrey Public Library, operating as Surrey Libraries, is the municipal public library system of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Surrey Libraries serves Surrey's population of approximately 580,000 with a collection of more than 790,000 items and 188,691 active cardholders.[4]

Services

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

  • Literacy-based programs for children, youth, and adults
  • Information and reference services
  • Access to online products and a large collection of streaming/downloadable eBooks, eAudiobooks and movies.
  • Community information
  • Wi-Fi, internet & computer access
  • Reader's advisory services
  • Delivery to homebound individuals
  • Interlibrary loans
  • Downloadable eBooks and audiobooks

History

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Prior to 1983, 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. The Surrey Public Library's 10-branch network includes the Newton branch, designed by Patkau Architects, which was awarded the Governor General's Award for architecture in 1994.[5] The Semiahmoo branch, which opened in 2004, was the first LEED certified public library in Canada.[6] City Centre Library was designed by Bing Thom Architects.[7] The library is 77,000 square feet on four floors and it is a LEED certified green building. The official Grand Opening was held on September 24, 2011.[8]

Locations

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The award-winning Newton Library was officially opened on May 2, 1992

The library has ten branches:

  • City Centre (LEED Gold Certified)
  • Clayton
  • Cloverdale
  • Fleetwood
  • Guildford
  • Newton
  • Ocean Park
  • Port Kells
  • Semiahmoo (LEED Silver Certified)
  • Strawberry Hill

Collections

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Fleetwood Library branch of the Surrey Public Library
  • Surrey Libraries provides patrons with books, music CDs, books on CD, databases, DVDs, magazines, reference books, newspapers and online materials. Library material is available in Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Punjabi, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Urdu, and Vietnamese. The online learning collection includes a large collection of streaming/downloadable eBooks, eAudio and movies.
  • Accessibility Services offers home delivery services and specialized collections including downloadable eBooks and eAudio to Surrey patrons with print and other disabilities.
  • Genealogy services are offered through the Family History Department which holds the largest collection of Canadian genealogy resources in Western Canada and offers numerous programs on genealogy.

Awards

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Year Award Giver
1994 Governor General Award for architecture Newton Branch Patkau architects Architecture Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts
1997 Citation for Citizenship Citizen and Immigration Canada
2004 Cultural Diversity Award Surrey Delta Immigration Services Society
2005 Honorable Mention Community Learning - Conference Board of Canada
2006 Cultural Diversity Award Surrey Delta Immigration Services Society
2009/2010 BCLA Merit Award for Storytimes to help learn English British Columbia Library Association
2010/1011 BCLA Merit Award for Festival of Aboriginal Arts British Columbia Library Association
2011 Non Profit Business of the Year Surrey Board of Trade
2016 BCLA Merit Award: Advocacy or Marketing for Literacy Day Report British Columbia Library Association
2018/2021 Community Safety Partner Award Surrey Crime Prevention Society
2019 Community Leader Award Surrey Homelessness and Housing Society

2023 Library Board [9]

  • Surinder Bhogal (Chief Librarian & Secretary of Board)
  • Marilyn Herrmann (Chair)
  • Pardeep Kooner (Council Representative)
  • Dr. Balbir Gurm (Vice Chair)
  • Kiran Dhesa
  • Louise Hearty
  • Darius Maze
  • John Gillies
  • Dulce Amba Cuenca
  • Rachel Smith
  • Gordon Powell
  • Dupinder Kaur Saran
  • Lisa Werring


References

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  1. ^ [1] Surrey Libraries 2010 Annual Report
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-12-22. Retrieved 2011-08-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-12-22. Retrieved 2011-08-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ Surrey, City of (2016-04-18). "Literacy Day Reports". www.surreylibraries.ca. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  5. ^ cf. 1994: Patkau Architects Inc. Architecture Canada, The Governor General’s Awards for Architecture: pp.92-99, Newton Library
  6. ^ "CLA 2005 ~ June 15 - 18, 2005 (Calgary, Alberta)". Archived from the original on 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  7. ^ "Revery Architecture - Revery is a Vancouver-based, and internationally recognized architecture, interiors, and planning studio renowned for creating unique and innovative work".
  8. ^ "City Centre Branch". 12 December 2016.
  9. ^ "Board of Trustees". Surrey Libraries. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
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