ABOUT THE VPL FOUNDATION

The Vancouver Public Library Foundation was set up in 1997 to enhance the programs, collections, services, and spaces of the Vancouver Public Library; programs and spaces for everyone in our community. It is governed by a self-elected Board of Directors and currently employs five full time staff, who work closely with employees of the Vancouver Public Library.

ABOUT THE VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY

Vancouver Public Library (VPL) was founded in 1887 and is the third largest public library system in Canada. Across its 21 locations, VPL is the most-visited major urban library per capita in the country.​The Vancouver Public Library Foundation is proud to support the Library’s successful history of providing services, programs and resources to children, families and adults throughout the City.  Vancouver loves its library, offline and online: 78 per cent of city residents use the library, which enjoyed more than 6.9 million patron visits last year [an equivalent of more than 10 visits per resident]. The library’s website (vplf.ca) had 5.3 million visits. More than 8,000 programs – all of them free – entertained, engaged and informed more than 235,000 people.

Vancouver Public Library is a destination, a community, a facilitator, a resource, an innovator and an enabler. And free – always free.

THE CAMPAIGN TO TRANSFORM CENTRAL LIBRARY

With an ever increasing demand on its services and a rapidly growing population in its surrounding neighbourhoods, VPL’s Central Library needs to grow. Construction to add two storeys of new space for reading, learning programs and exhibits was completed in September 2018, but there is still much to do!

Next, VPL will renovate existing spaces at Central Library to better serve the needs of your community. The cost of the project to expand and enhance existing spaces of Central Library is $28M. The City of Vancouver has committed $9M towards growing Central Library. Thanks to the leadership of philanthropic leaders in our community, we have raised over $14M so far. Vancouver Public Library Foundation has committed to raise the remaining $5M.

Vancouver Public Library Foundation acknowledges that our work takes place on the unceded homelands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nation.