2015 Financial Annual Report

CITY OF SURREY OVERVIEWS

SURREY PUBLIC LIBRARY

Surrey Public Library has nine branches, located in the six town centres: Guildford, Fleetwood, Newton, City Centre, Cloverdale and South Surrey, as well as in Strawberry Hill, Ocean Park and Port Kells. The Library collects and loans a wide variety of materials in print, audiovisual and electronic formats. Information Services staff help customers with collections, online databases, eBooks and eAudio, internet sites and other information. Customers can ask questions in person, by telephone, or email. The Library’s website provides links to community organizations in Surrey and to useful sites on the Internet. The library offers a wide variety of programs that support literacy, including story times for children, job finding and career workshops, reading clubs for children and teens, computer literacy classes, services for new Canadians and support for customers with print disabilities. Partnerships with local community agencies help to extend literacy programs beyond the Library’s walls. The Library is a member of the Public Library InterLINK, a federation of 18 library systems in the Lower Mainland that allows citizens to borrow directly from all partner libraries and to return materials at their home library branch. The department has responsibility for the following divisions/sections:

PUBLIC SERVICES Public Services manages the borrowing and information services offered through its nine locations, and plans, promotes and delivers a wide variety of programs. This division also acquires and manages the print and electronic collections to meet the needs of Surrey’s diverse community.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES Administrative Services manages the physical spaces, as well as the finance, human resources and information technology functions of the Library system, ensuring day-to-day service requirements are met. This division also manages the Library’s external communications and raises awareness and funds to support and enhance its community services.

2 0 1 5 A C C O M P L I S H M E N T S • Prepared the 2015 Literacy Day Report, which highlighted the economic impact of libraries www.surreylibraries.ca/files/ LDR15.pdf.

• Continued to help reduce the ‘digital divide’ by making iPads available for families with young children, through ‘Curiosity Corners’ at City Centre and Strawberry Hill libraries. • Hosted the Surrey Soiree, a signature event designed to highlight the work being done by libraries and raise the awareness of the Library as a charitable organization.

• Worked to improve early literacy skills, for example over 15,500 children participated in Summer Reading Club in 2015. • Piloted new partnerships with agencies that assist people with mental health and other issues. • Eliminated fines on children’s materials to reduce barriers to accessing library services. • Hosted an event for homeschooler families, to inform them of services and collections available.

• Supported the creative economy by hosting the Surrey Maker Showcase, which featured 3D printing. • Created a pilot seed lending library. • Reduced printing by piloting scan to USB services for the public at the City Centre Library.

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