Beyond Books: How Donors Made a Difference at VPl in 2024/25

At Vancouver Public Library, your support makes the library more than a collection of books. You transform it into a cultural hub, a gathering place, and a community resource where people of all ages can thrive. 

Thanks to generous donors like you, 2024/25 was a year filled with impact and inspiration. Here are three ways you helped make the library a place of connection, learning, and joy: 

🎶 Live Music at VPL: Turning the Library Into a Cultural Stage 

Donor support brought music into unexpected corners of Central Library — from jazz on the Rooftop to opera on the Grand Staircase and trombones in the Atrium. Thousands of people gathered to experience free concerts that celebrated local talent and turned the library into a lively cultural stage. 

These performances — from world music ensembles to experimental soundscapes — created joyful, shared experiences that inspired discovery and connection, all made possible by donors like you. 

👥 Seniors Programming: Building Confidence, Connection, and Safety 

Many older adults face barriers like social isolation, financial insecurity, or limited access to technology. Thanks to donor support, VPL delivered 26 programs that reached 329 participants — offering an opportunity to develop practical skills and foster social connection. 

• 8 digital literacy workshops helped seniors navigate tools like Google Maps.

• 8 financial literacy sessions gave 174 people tools to spot scams and protect themselves.

• 5 creative programs brought 57 participants together for social connection.

• 3 health-focused workshops supported 33 attendees with strategies for wellness.

One participant left a fraud-prevention workshop with the knowledge and confidence to stop a potential scam that they were confronted with — a powerful, life-changing outcome you helped make possible. 

📱 Reading Buddies: Inspiring Young Readers 

With your support, VPL added iPads to Reading Buddies, where children in Grades 2–4 (Little Buddies) are paired with teen mentors (Big Buddies) to practice reading, storytelling, and games. 

 Thanks to donors, 16 iPad-enhanced Reading Buddies sessions have already taken place so far this year — reaching 177 young readers and mentors. The new technology has made sessions more interactive and engaging, helping kids build confidence and joy in reading. 

And that’s just one example — Reading Buddies is part of the 4,537 library programs that reached more than 134,000 participants last year — a testament to how far your generosity goes. 

Thank You 

From filling the library with live music, to empowering seniors, to sparking a love of reading in children — you made it happen. 

Because of you, the library is more than books. It’s a place of inspiration, safety, and connection for the entire community. 

Thank you for making that possible.