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Whistler Public Library 2008 Annual Report
Letter from the Director & Board Chair
2008 began with the library closed to the public in order to take care of some heavy lifting: the physical move of our collection and staff equipment into our new facility. We invited members of the public to help usby participating in Books on the Move, with each person carrying one book from the old building to the new.
It was a symbolic but important contribution, embraced by young and old alike. Next, library staff and the professional movers came in to move the majority of the 40,000 item collection. After a four-week frenzy, we finally opened our doors to the public on January 26.
Beyond having up to 1,500 people per day come through the library, whether to simply look around or to availthemselves of our services, we hosted a wide variety of programs and events in 2008.
Author readings, Vanoc’s Paralympic 2-year Countdown Celebration, a Quest University Lecture Series, a New Music in New Places concert, and the CBC Christmas Carol performance were all well received.
In April, we hosted Libration, our Grand Opening celebration, which included children’s programs; a panel of local chefs discussing their favourite cookbooks (with samples); a Dancing & Drumming performance by the Lil'wat Nation;and the infamous Literary Martini Party (anyone for a Tequila Mockingbird?).
We also started a basic literacy and ESL program in cooperation with Capilano College, and the Community Room was used by numerous com-munity and business groups for meetings and workshops.
2008 was truly a landmark year for Whistler Public Library, and we’d like to thank our staff, our volunteers (including the many we forgot to list), the Friends of the Whistler Public Library, and the Board of Trustees for all their hard work in getting us through the move, with the many changes and adjustments. Not only did we move into a new facility, but we also installed self-checkout machines, computer booking software for the Digital Learning Centre, and a new open source library catalogue as part of a Provincial consortium. It was avery intense year, and everyone went above and beyond to get things done.
Toward the end of the year, we began the next task: that of formulating a new Strategic Plan for Whistler Public Library. We engaged Whistlerites from all walks of life in the process, so that we could make a plan for the next few years and ensure that the library succeeds in our primary goal of serving our community.
We want the new library to truly be Whistler’s Gateway to Knowledge.
Lauren Stara Library Director
Alix Nicoll, Chair WPL Board of Trustees
Download the 2008 WPL Annual Report
Facts & Figures
| Collection | 2007 | 2008 |
| Books | 35,996 | 41,568 |
| Videos/DVDs | 2,691 | 3,433 |
| CDs & Audiobooks | 2,397 | 2,831 |
| Other | 95 | 129 |
| Total | 41,179 | 47,961 |
| Magazine subscriptions | 95 | 138 |
| Items checked out | 129,260 | 127,831 |
| ILLs from other libraries | 888 | 465 |
| ILLs to other libraries | 1,208 | 2,242 |
| Questions answered | 3,484 | 16,328 |
| Programs | ||
| Adult (#) | 4 | 692 |
| Children's (#) | 141 | 282 |
| Total attendance | 4,320 | 8,985 |
| Visitors | 97,864 | 247,472 |
| Active cardholders | 14,556 | 20,542 |
| Hours open per year | 2,598 | 2,453 |
| Revenue | 2007 | 2008 |
| Municipal support | $544,880.00 | $757,639.00 |
| Regional district support | $2,900.00 | $2,900.00 |
| Provincial PLSB grants |
$54,702.00 | $54,702.00 |
| Other project grants | $4,806.00 | $1,000.00 |
| Library generated revenue | $27,332.00 | $56,983.00 |
| Donations and Fundraising | $8,576.00 | $150,270.00 |
| Total revenue | $643,196.00 | $1,024,375.00 |
| Expenditure | 2007 | 2008 |
| Salaries and benefits | $487,285.00 | $641,874.00 |
| Library materials | $73,074.00 | $97,529.00 |
| Electronic databases and subscriptions | $5,129.00 | $4,090.00 |
| Total library materials expenditure | $78,203.00 | $101,619.00 |
| Computer systems & telecommunications | $12,224.00 | $28,083.00 |
| Library facilities | $11,543.00 | $63,319.00 |
| Capital expenditure | $233,483.00 | $387,754.00 |
| Other expenditure | $52,840.00 | $44,782.00 |
| Total expenditure | $875,578.00 | $1,267,431.00 |
| Transfers to reserve funds | $1,100.00 | $129,420.00 |
Staff
Lauren Stara, Director
Nadine White, Public Services Librarian
Jomichele Seidl, Youth Services Librarian (Jan-May)
Libby McKeever, Youth Services Coordinator (May-Dec)
Danusia Smit, Circulation Supervisor
Susanna Lam, Administrative Assistant
Library Assistants
Jane Clifford
Marilyn Crichton
Claire Johnson
Darel Lee
Verna MacDonald
Beverly Newell
Jennifer Pringle
Manon St. Pierre
Adrienne Theed
Suzanne Thomas
Student Shelvers
Marlin Beswetherick
Kristina Hemingson
Chelsea Iaconetti-Bush
Celestina Jones
Zendai Kashino
Kyle MacDonald
Katelyn McKeever
Emily Overbeck
Board of Trustees
Alix Nicoll, Chair
Gord Annand, Vice Chair
Brigit Smejkal, Treasurer
Ralph Forsyth, Municipal Rep
Nancy Campbell
Margie Clare
Tara d’Artois
Heather MacKenzie
Mike McCarville (Sept-Dec)
William Roberts
Susan Sperry (Jan-Aug)
Jennifer Wyne