1. GENERAL INFORMATION 1.1 LIBRARY NAME AND LOGO The official name of the library is: DISTRICT OF NORTH VANCOUVER MUNICIPAL PUBLIC LIBRARY It is normally called: NORTH VANCOUVER DISTRICT PUBLIC LIBRARY OR NORTH VANCOUVER DISTRICT LIBRARY In order to avoid confusion with the City of North Vancouver Public Library we refer to our library branches as follows: Lynn Valley Main Library Capilano Branch Parkgate Branch LOGO The logo was designed by Matt Warburton, Emdoubleyu Design, in 2006 as part of the identity refresh congruent with the new Lynn Valley Main Library project. 1. GENERAL INFORMATION Date of Issue: January 2013 Page: 1 North Vancouver District Public Library Policy Manual 1.2 THE LIBRARY The Library serves the District of North Vancouver, which stretches from the Capilano River on the west, to Deep Cove in the east, south to Burrard Inlet and up the mountain slopes of Grouse and Seymour. It covers approximately 1,276 hectares and has a population of approximately 88,000 (2008). In the centre of the North Vancouver area lies the City of North Vancouver, which is a separate municipality having its own library system. While we do cooperate and are both members of Public Libraries InterLink, there is no political connection between the two libraries. The District is served by three libraries: Capilano Branch, 3045 Highland Boulevard, which serves the western part; Lynn Valley, 1277 Lynn Valley Road, which is the main library and also houses the Administration offices, and the Parkgate Branch, 3675 Banff Court which serves the eastern portion of the District. The library is a member of Public Libraries InterLink, a cooperative of eighteen Lower Mainland public libraries which provide equal access to all residents of the member municipalities as well as special services such as inter-library loan and audio books for readers who are visually impaired. (For more information see section 1.5 InterLink.) 1. GENERAL INFORMATION Date of Issue: January 2013 Page: 2 North Vancouver District Public Library Policy Manual NORTH VANCOUVER DISTRICT PUBLIC LIBRARY 1964- The early history of North Vancouver District Public Library is one of rapid growth from humble but very stubborn roots. It became a tax-supported municipal library in 1964. Prior to that there were several community libraries organized and run by volunteers, first in private basements or in the backs of stores, and then in community sites throughout the District: Sey-Lynn Community Hall, old Lynn Valley Community Hall, in the living quarters of the fire hall in Edgemont Village, and later in Deep Cove Community Hall (established September 1963). Volunteers were also instrumental in gaining District approval for construction of a "real" library branch at Capilano in 1958. The first paid staff, hired when the municipality assumed responsibility for the library, were Chief Librarian Enid Dearing, a part-time cataloguer and five clerks. The first Headquarters offices were located in a tiny store in the old Westlynn Shopping Centre - a drab row of small stores almost completely surrounded by bush and vandals. By 1968, Lynn Valley Branch had moved from the Community Hall to the Ballet School to the Westlynn store, and Headquarters had moved to a warehouse on Lynn Avenue. In 1969 the flagship Capilano branch acquired an addition and Deep Cove moved to larger rented quarters. 1970 saw the amalgamation of Sey-Lynn and Lynn Valley into a new main branch and headquarters in Lynn Valley. Within 5 years the library's growth had rendered this building too small, and a second floor addition was opened in December 1975. During this period, the library's book stock rose from 28,229 in 1964 to 106,299 in 1975; the circulation went from 202,386 to 508,050 and the staff grew accordingly. A period of relative stability followed. The rapidly expanding Eastern area of the District presented some service problems. Between July 1973 and June 1978 the library rented a Bookmobile from West Vancouver Memorial Library to serve patrons in the Seymour corridor, but this service became uneconomical and was discontinued. In 1979 the problem was partially solved when the small Deep Cove branch moved in with the library of the new Community School and became Seycove Branch. The combined school-public library was a successful venture, and resulted in dramatic increases in the branch's circulating figures; however, the population continued to grow rapidly in the eastern part of the District and long-term plans were made for the eventual construction of a full-sized library branch in that area. Meanwhile, the Capilano Branch was fighting an uphill battle against overcrowded conditions and a persistently leaking roof. Funds for a major addition were approved in 1983 and in December 1984 the library moved to a temporary location in the unused gymnasium of North Star School. The renovated building, tripled in size, re- opened in October 1985. 1. GENERAL INFORMATION Date of Issue: January 2013 Page: 3 North Vancouver District Public Library Policy Manual The library materials collection was growing along with the facilities. Records were added in 1973 and videotapes in 1982. Audiocassettes were introduced in 1985 and compact discs - to eventually replace the phonograph records - in 1988. By 1980 the book stock was 144,134 and the library was planning for automation. First priority was given to producing full catalogue records in machine-readable format. Computer cataloguing of new books using the UTLAS system began in 1983, when a grant of $95,400 was obtained from the provinces' Automation of Public Libraries Fund, and the project was completed early in 1985. Although the introduction of automation was the library's main focus, the whole system continued to grow and all services were heavily used. In 1989 the library took the time out to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its establishment as a municipal public library. The celebrations held throughout the year culminated in September with a grand outdoor party attended by federal, provincial, and municipal officials, past and present Board members and staff, and the public. Throughout the later 1980's planning for an integrated automated system was a primary goal. A Request for a Proposal was issued in 1987 and evaluations of two systems were made. Capital funding was approved by District Council in 1988 and CLSI was selected as our vendor. Unfortunately despite a lengthy period of negotiations, the library was unable to come to a satisfactory agreement with CLSI and dealings with them were terminated in March 1989. A revised tender was issued and contract negotiations with Dynix Library Systems Inc. were begun and successfully completed by January 1990. Under the direction of the Project Manager and her Assistant, the computer room was constructed and hardware installed by July 1990. Entering the branch locations of our collections into the data base was a large project which involved all of the staff, as did the barcoding project when each item in the collection received a "smart" barcode. The automated Dynix system was implemented over several stages in 1991 and 1992. On May 29, 1991 library material was first circulated on the system and on December 4th of that year, public access terminals were installed in all branches, allowing patrons to search for materials, place their own Holds and check borrowing records. The enhanced service of Sunday openings at the Lynn Valley Branch (October - April) was also introduced in 1991 and was well received by the community. A major change that affected the Library in 1991 was the retirement of Enid Dearing, Chief Librarian since the official foundation of the library in 1964. The Library Board appointed Noreen Ballantyne, Lynn Valley Branch Head / Deputy Chief Librarian, to the position of Chief Librarian that same year. 1. GENERAL INFORMATION Date of Issue: January 2013 Page: 4 North Vancouver District Public Library Policy Manual A new branch library for the Eastern Seymour area was approved as part of a Parkgate Civic Centre complex in 1991. An architect was selected that year for the whole project, but only the library was built as Phase I in 1994. Library operations were moved from the Seycove Branch and the new 15,000 square foot Parkgate Branch opened its doors in November 1994. It was an instant success with the community - over 2,000 new patrons registered in the first four months of operation. 1993 was a landmark year as circulation of library material topped the one million mark. The library materials collection received a boost with a special grant from the District in 1993 and 1994 in preparation for the new Parkgate Branch. By 1995 the collection contained 252,000 items. Information technology was the issue of the 1990's. While continuing to add enhancements to the Dynix system - check-out printer, access to the library database via modem, etc. - the Library moved towards more technology and telecommunication to assist in providing information. In 1992 the first CD-ROM product was installed on a computer in the Lynn Valley Reference Department and opened up a whole new world of information access. Dial-up access to local public and university libraries from a computer workstation at the Capilano Branch in 1993 was later extended to Lynn Valley and Parkgate. CD-ROM information products are in use at all branches, along with public access to the Internet as of December 1995. Growth and change were the major themes for the period from the late 1990’s into the first decade of the new century. This included the planning and building of new or improved library facilities, the continued upgrading and implementing of new information technology, and changes to key staff positions. The Library also saw a significant growth in use during this time.