The West Vancouver Memorial Library is a vibrant, open-ended story with new chapters of discovery penned daily. New projects, acquisitions, materials, programs, equipment, furnishings, and building improvements are carefully selected. The Foundation works with the Library to determine where private support can have the greatest impact, while not supplanting the public funding for the basic operations of the Library.
Donations from the Foundation have enabled the Library to develop well-designed and forward-looking spaces, furnishings and infrastructure on the Lower Level. Enhancements include installation of study space furnishings for collaborative study, addition of sound control treatments, comfortable lounge seating and upgraded connectivity through additional computer workstations, electrical outlets and reliable wireless.
It is only through the kind generosity and ongoing support of our donors that enhancements such as these are possible. If you wish to make a donation, please visit Ways to Give.
Recent Projects
Brain Health Collection
This Foundation-funded collection supports caregivers and people living with neurocognitive disorders such as strokes, dementia, Parkinson’s, or Huntington’s. You can borrow up to 16 prepared activities and games that provide social engagement and cognitive stimulation. Anyone with a WVML card can borrow and benefit from this collection.
Community Recording Studio
The Library’s state-of-the-art Recording Studio was possible thanks to funding from the Foundation and the District of West Vancouver. Robert Leslie Welsh’s legacy gift to the Foundation has transformed our Library’s service; now, more than 20 years later, it is still funding major projects, like this new Recording Studio. This Studio features a selection of industry-standard equipment and software, perfect for recording music, audiobooks, podcasts, and more.
The Lab
The Foundation is extremely proud to have partnered with the District of West Vancouver to support The Lab, with major kudos to the Library team for their insightful repurposing of the former book storage space. The opening ceremony was extremely well supported; it was great to see patrons queuing to experience the technology in action.
The Musto Lounge
The Foundation provided funding for the furnishings in the Musto Lounge in the West Wing, which opened on March 28, 2017. The Lounge is named after Elizabeth Musto, West Vancouver Memorial Library’s first Chief Librarian, who served from 1950 to 1972. With carefully selected and comfortable seating, proximity to natural light and fabrics inspired by the work of B.C. Binning, the Musto Lounge is a bright, accessible and inviting social hub within the Library.
The Library Courtyard
The courtyard provides an attractive and comfortable outdoor space in which to read, connect to our Wi-Fi, work on a project with a colleague, or have a cup of coffee with a friend.
Room 14
The Teens-Only Space, named Room 14, is a gorgeous, well-designed place just for those in their teenage years. The beautiful furnishings, wide-screen visual monitor, audio plug-ins, computers, and resources are theirs to enjoy. The teens love it and so do parents who gratefully acknowledge the space as a nurturing, safe, fun place for teens to call their very own and to socialize, learn, study, connect, plug in, or just chill.
Creighton Water Wall
An indoor cascading water wall welcomes visitors to the Library’s Lower Level thanks to a generous donation from the estate of Joan Creighton, who served as a Director of the Foundation (1992 – 1997) and as a Trustee of the Library Board, including role of Chair (1995 – 2001).
Sustained Funding
Booktopia
Started in 2005, Booktopia is West Vancouver’s Literary Arts Festival for young people. Booktopia promotes literacy, celebrates language arts and cultivates creative thought amongst kids, teens and families in West Vancouver.
Thanks to the WVML Foundation’s generous support, over 1,500 West Vancouver students hear from the best and brightest speakers every year.
Held in early May, Booktopia offers a series of events for preschool, elementary, and secondary school students, including author visits, workshops, a youth art exhibit, a puppet show, and more. Past speakers have included Jacqueline Woodson, Kazu Kibuishi, Shane Koyczan, and dozens of other internationally renowned authors and illustrators.
Digital Literacy Promotion
Your donations also allow the Foundation to provide digital literacy programs. The programs span from guided, hands-on instruction; to basic code, scripts and programs; to communicating online with digital media; to exploring big ideas and emerging technologies and more.
Contributions to the Foundation also help the Library deliver other high-value programs for digital literacy and literacy of all kinds, like our popular TED talk events.
Music
A generous bequest dedicated to music from the estate of Robert Leslie Welsh through the West Vancouver Memorial Library Foundation allows us to bring music to our community in a few ways.
- Friday Night Concert Series
Our Main Hall is transformed into a performance space for seven concerts each year featuring a wide range of music, from classical and jazz to folk and world music. Our grand piano has been played by Jane Coop, Robert Silverman, and Linda Lee Thomas. - Music Appreciation
The Welsh Hall is a venue for our popular jazz, opera, and other music appreciation programs as well as afternoon concerts. - Music for Children
Creative programs that introduce children to music include Orff Kodaly, Mother Goose©, and performances by well-loved children’s musicians.
TED Talks
Each year, the Library hosts TED Talks, streamed live from the Vancouver Convention Centre. Foundation funding supports this ever-popular program, along with refreshments.