Opened on November 11, 1950, West Vancouver Memorial Library is a War Memorial, dedicated as a living monument and an everlasting commemoration to those who served and sacrificed their lives in the Second World War.
We are a municipal library, governed by the BC Library Act and managed by the West Vancouver Memorial Library Board. As a public library, West Vancouver Memorial Library is a shared community resource, supported primarily by public funds gathered through municipal and provincial taxation, as well as by private donations. Library services are free of charge to the community of West Vancouver and members of other public libraries in BC, as provided in the Library Act.
Our values, vision and mission are established by the 2016-2020 Strategic Plan.
Values
Our values represent our most deeply held beliefs.
Excellence
We cultivate a culture of excellence, holding ourselves accountable to a high standard. We support people in achieving their highest potential.
Inclusiveness
We practise inclusiveness by respecting, reflecting and appreciating the diversity in our community.
Innovation
We continuously learn and improve by seeking new ways of being, seeing and doing.
Sustainability
We manage our resources responsibly to maintain financial, social and environmental sustainability for the well-being of our community.
Trust
We conduct ourselves openly and with integrity.
Our Vision and Mission
Our Vision expresses a broad, aspirational state.
Where wonder sparks, possibilities emerge and minds thrive. Our Library inspires people to grow in a dynamic world.
Our Mission defines our purpose and reason for being.
Open and welcoming to all, our Library connects people with information, the world of imagination, and each other.
Strategic Priorities
PEOPLE
- Support 21st Century Learning
- Learning is changing and expanding far beyond the physical walls of formal educational settings like schools and post-secondary institutions. Learners of all ages will need tools, support and skill development opportunities to reach their highest personal learning potential in our global environment.
- Foster technological skills, digital literacy, digital content creation, and computational literacy for learners of all ages
- Support adults with their learning and creative aspirations
- Provide Library services that develop critical thinking, communication, creativity, self-regulation, and self-assessment so youth can effectively use information and create knowledge
- Deepen and Extend Community Collaboration
- Our community is best served by organizations operating as a network with the Library recognized as a key learning institution and community gathering space. Expanding current relationships, building new ones, and fostering an ongoing dialogue are integral to the community’s continued success.
- Further Develop cooperative relationships with learning institutions
- Increase communications with community service providers and cultural groups to improve planning and mutual understanding of service delivery
- Optimize partnerships with community groups and individuals to bring local knowledge and expertise to the larger community
- Create and Implement a consultation framework that includes community conversations and needs assessments to inform and develop Library service and space planning
PLACE
- Sustain and Enhance our Physical Space
- We are committed to preserving and enhancing our community’s 70-year investment in our current facility, as well as evaluating the existing and future physical space needs of our community.
- Extend the life span of the facility by collaborating with the District of West Vancouver to plan and implement capital projects
- Address existing and new space needs at our current facility through interior renovations
- Manage arrangement and scope of physical collections to support the learning and personal enrichment needs of our community
- Evolve technological infrastructure to ensure delivery of reliable and secure connectivity, and capacity for growth
- Address in a sustainable manner emerging space and service delivery needs arising from community consultations
DIGITAL PLATFORM
- Develop and Integrate our Digital Platform
- Our community is rapidly adopting technology, and technology is shaping and driving all aspects of our increasingly connected lives. Our digital platform, including our website, online catalogue, social media sites, and historical digital collection, is a community space for curating and sharing knowledge.
- Develop digital functionality that responds to changing technologies
- Integrate the physical and digital experiences of the Library
- Expand selection and availability of digital collections