Vancouver Public Library

The Vancouver Public Library ( VPL ) is the third largest public library system in Canada. It is owned by the City of Vancouver and consists of a central library and 21 branches that are evenly distributed throughout the city. The VPL has 2.67 million media ( of which 1.3 million were in the Central Library on West Georgia Street). These include books, magazines, newspapers, video and audio cassettes, DVDs, CD- ROMs, CDs and microfilms. 373,000 registered users borrow annually from around 9 million media. For this purpose, decreed the VPL in 2011 with a budget of C $ 43,368,609.

Central Library

Designed by Moshe Safdie, the VPL Central Library is located in the 350 West Georgia Street, in the eastern part of the central business district and covers an entire city block known as Vancouver Library Square. This is limited by the Robson Street, Homer Street, West Georgia Street and Hamilton Street. In the center is a rectangular building with nine floors, where the bookshelves and the various library services are located. The top two floors are used by the administration of the Province of British Columbia and will in the near future also the library are provided.

The central part is connected by bridges to a free-standing, elliptical colonnade that surrounds the complex and contains the reading rooms. The exterior appearance of the building is reminiscent of the Colosseum in Rome. The entire complex also includes a high-rise building, shops, restaurants and an underground car park.

The Central Library is to be seen in several films and television series, including The 6th Day, Ballistic, The Game, Battlestar Galactica, Smallville and Fringe - Special cases of the FBI.

History

The first library was opened in 1869 Hastings Library Institute, which was the workers of the sawmill Hastings Mill available. According to the official city was founded in 1886 in the collection of the Vancouver Free Library was transferred. The rooms in the YMCA building soon proved too small. The city government in 1901 turned to Andrew Carnegie, who donated libraries in many cities at that time and asked for a financial contribution. Carnegie agreed and donated $ 50,000, with the stipulation that the city must provide the premises. In October 1903, the opening of the new library building next to the former town hall took place.

In 1911, the first branches were opened, they had to be closed in 1919 for financial reasons, but again. In 1927, a second, this time successful attempt. The town hall was added in 1929 as an extension to the Carnegie Library, which shared some of their premises with the Vancouver Museum. 1945 approved Vancouver residents in a referendum to build a new central library and in 1957 moved into the VPL the new building near the Burrard Street.

Also the building on the Burrard Street proved after several years as too small. In November 1990, the construction of a modern new building on West Georgia Street was adopted in another referendum. The city held an architectural competition, the Moshe Safdie won. His design was the most radical of all, but enjoyed in most public approval. The foundation stone was laid on 1 February 1993, opening on 26 May 1995. The construction costs amounted to 106.8 million CAD.

The following branch offices belong to the VPL:

  • Britannia ( 70,000 )
  • Carnegie ( 11,000 )
  • Champlain Heights ( 51,000 )
  • Collingwood ( 29,000 )
  • Dunbar ( 75,000 )
  • Fire Hall ( 60,000 )
  • Fraserview ( 49,000 )
  • Hastings ( 74,000 )
  • Joe Fortes ( 80,000 )
  • Kennsington (?)
  • Kerrisdale ( 48,000 )
  • Kitsilano (?)
  • Marpole ( 60,000 )
  • Mount Pleasant ( 200,000 )
  • Oakridge ( 82,000 )
  • Outreach ( 37,000 )
  • Renfrew ( 325,000 )
  • South Hill (?)
  • Strathcona ( 47,000 )
  • Terry Salman ( 81,000 )
  • West Point Grey ( 59,000 )

( Value in brackets = number of media in the branch office, if known )

International Standard Identifier for Libraries and Related Organizations Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever
798515
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