“We know CEI will be able to deliver the regional library we need to serve the North Okanagan community, including Coldstream, Vernon and surrounding areas, to be centrally located in the downtown of Vernon,” explains ORL Board Chair Ted Bacigalupo.

With project management, an architect, and financing confirmed for the project within the past month, the ORL will continue moving forward quickly to have conceptual drawings ready for review by early fall. Public involvement will be a key component in designing the new branch.

“We’re really looking forward to working with CEI and receiving input from the community to ensure the new branch will serve the needs of this region,” says Vernon Branch Head Maureen Curry. “After 21 years in our current location, which has been too small for our growing area for years, this project is such an exciting development.”

Established in 1986, CEI Architecture Planning and Interiors has offices in Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, and Los Angeles. The firm has recently been responsible for major renovations to the Greater Victoria Public Library’s Saanich Branch and Coquitlam’s Poirier Library as well as new public libraries in North Vancouver and Burnaby with Diamond Schmidt Architects. CEI’s locally-based work includes the Vernon Cultural Centre Study and the Okanagan College Centre of Excellence in Penticton.

The reason for this limit is that the ORL doesn't have enough bandwidth to allow unlimited or large numbers of customers to access the internet at the same time. The amount of bandwidth purchased by the ORL for customers in its twenty-nine branches is quite high, but it is not unlimited. By enforcing the one hour limit for all, we can ensure more equity of access for customers across our service area.

They will be at the following branches during these times:

Mission Branch at 4105 Gordon – Friday, July 9 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Westbank Branch in Westridge Mall – Tuesday, July 13 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Peachland Branch in Peachland Village Mall – Thursday, July 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Rutland Branch in Plaza 33 Mall – Wednesday, July 21 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

However, ORL customers can still find answers to their queries using our Reference and Information Service. Whether you are looking for detailed research, the answer to a particular question, or help finding the right information, our Reference Librarians can assist you via phone, email, and in-person. Find out more on our Information and Reference Service page.

Will begins his tour on Monday, July 5 and will spend the next three weeks visiting communities throughout the ORL's area. Dates, times and locations for all of his concerts can be found below or on branch pages where he is touring.

Since 2005, Will has released four CDs of original music: “Let’s All Dance” (November 2005), “Will et sa maman: Chantons et dansons” (July 2007), "My Backyard" (November 2008), and "Dans mon jardin" (May 2009). Recently, "My Backyard" was nominated for "Best Children's Recording of the Year (2009)" by the Western Canadian Music Awards. For more on information on Will and to hear his music, check out his website at http://www.willmusic.ca/

Summer Reading Club is sponsored in partnership by the ORL, the BC Library Association, and the Ministry of Education.

Kelowna - Mon. July 5th 10:00 a.m.

Westbank - Mon. July 12th 10:00 a.m.

Rutland -Mon. July 5th 1:00 p.m.

Lake Country - Tues. July 13th 10:00 a.m.

Mission - Tues. July 6th 10:00 a.m.

Lumby - Tues. July 13th 1:30 p.m.

Peachland - Tues. July 6th 1:00 p.m.

Cherryville - Wed. July 14th 10:00 a.m.

Summerland - Wed. July 7th 10:00 a.m.

Vernon - Wed. July 14th 1:00 p.m.

Kaleden - Wed. July 7th 1:00 p.m.

Silver Creek - Thurs. July 15th 1:00 p.m.

Naramata - Wed. July 7th 3:30 p.m.

Falkland - Thurs. July 15th 3:30 p.m.

Okanagan Falls - Thurs. July 8th 10:00 a.m.

Enderby - Fri. July 16th 10:00 a.m.

Oliver - Thurs. July 8th 1:00 p.m.

Armstrong - Fri. July 16th 1:00 p.m.

Osoyoos - Thurs. July 8th 3:30 p.m.

Keremeos - Fri. July 9th 10:00 a.m.

Princeton - Fri. July 9th 1:30 p.m.

Golden - Tues. July 20th 10:00 a.m.

Revelstoke - Tues. July 20th 3:30 p.m.

Sicamous - Wed. July 21st 9:30 a.m.

North Shuswap - Wed. July 21st 1:00 p.m.

South Shuswap - Wed. July 21st 3:30 p.m.

Salmon Arm - Thurs. July 22nd 1:00 p.m.

“We’re very excited about returning to Vernon for this important community project,” says John Hiebert, President of TASK Construction Management. “TASK looks forward to re-connecting with the many contractors and vendors that made our local Performing Arts Centre and Multiplex projects so successful.”

The ORL hopes to move quickly to hire an architect and have drawings for the ORL Board to review by fall. Plans for public input into the process will be made available over the summer. The estimated cost on the building is approximately $11 million, which the ORL intends to borrow from the Municipal Finance Authority at competitive rates with the assistance of the North Okanagan Regional District.

“The alternate approval process is underway and going well,” explains ORL Board Chair Ted Bacigalupo about the financing of the project. “This is the most cost-effective way to get the people of the North Okanagan the library services they need, and the Board is very pleased to get this project underway with TASK’s construction management expertise.”

TASK is a wholly Canadian-owned company headquartered in Burnaby that specializes in large-scale community and recreation centre construction throughout BC.

When asked how he came up with the name, Jeremy commented, “It was actually really silly. I noticed Flippy and Paige had already been suggested, and just thought of putting them together as in ‘flip the page’”.

Jeremy has just completed Grade 10 at Kalamalka Secondary and is an avid curler, lawn bowler, and student leader. He is part of a Safe Schools anti-bullying club and a member of Team Green, which encourages students to be environmentally sensitive, and is a regular library user.

“The library is not only a place to get books, but also a place where you can gather, meet and share ideas, and have access to the internet, which is the world’s biggest information source,” Jeremy said. “I’m so excited about the new branch coming in Vernon.”

In fact, Jeremy is so supportive of the library he promptly donated two of the books he received back to the ORL system.

ORL Coldstream rep Maria Besson congratulates Jeremy at the ORL's Vernon Branch.

Maria Besso and Vernon Branch Head Maureen Curry look on as Jeremy checks out a few of the books on Canadian history he won.

Funds raised support children's Summer Reading Club, guest speakers and author events, special new facilities and more at the Kelowna, Mission and Rutland branches of the ORL. The 22nd Annual Great Okanagan Sale is set for Oct 14-16, 2010 at the Immaculate Conception Parish Hall.

Sponsored in partnership by the ORL, the BC Library Association and the Ministry of Education, this year’s Summer Reading Club theme is “Reading Rocks”. Students can visit their local branch to receive a reading record and register for weekly activities. Also, bilingual children’s musician Will Stroet will visit most ORL branches throughout the region for a special high-energy “Reading Rocks” concert; check your local branch for dates and times.

Detailed information about each branch’s events can be found at www.orl.bc.ca/branches or in the branch.

The name was suggested by 15-year-old Jeremy Woo of Coldstream. After hearing that Flippy LePage was one of the Top 10 finalists vying for the title, Jeremy wrote that he “was very excited” and “I’m crossing my fingers”. Jeremy will be awarded a $200 customized prize package from the ORL in recognition of his creativity.

“Paige Turner” and “Orlee” were also popular names in the voting. Congratulations and thanks to everyone who participated in the contest to christen the new ORL children’s mascot.

The South Shuswap Branch will be open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., and Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Community Librarian Shirley Stuart and her staff look forward to continue serving the Sorrento, Blind Bay, and Shuswap Area C communities. They can be reached at 250-675-4818.

An official opening ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, May 18; more details to follow.

Books for Babies is a program encouraging reading to infants from an early age to promote brain development, literacy, and parent-child bonding. As part of the program, every baby receives a board book and the parent receives information about the importance reading right from the time baby enters the world during a public health nurse's first visit after birth. The ORL coordinates the purchasing of books for the program and prepares kits for the Interior Health nurses to deliver.

For the past four years, the program was funded throughout the ORL region by the provincial government; however, provincial government cutbacks announced last fall meant the program would no longer be able to continue. Nixon Wenger has committed $10,000 per year for the next five years to Vernon's Junction Literacy Centre to support literacy initiatives in the city, and part of this year's funding will get Books for Babies going again in Vernon.

"We are pleased to support Junction Literacy Centre's programs, particularly those that assist parents to develop their children's reading skills", said firm partner Paul Nixon at an announcement of the donation. Former MLA Tom Christensen, who has coordinated the initiative on the firm's behalf added, "I've had the opportunity to see the profound impact that struggling with literacy can have on children. As lawyers, we rely heavily on our own literacy skills and recognize how important such skills are to getting through life in this day and age."

Packages will begin going to new parents and infants in the Vernon area shortly containing the board book "Moo Baa LaLaLa" by Sandra Boynton.

Thank you Nixon Wenger and Junction Literacy Centre - the ORL is pleased to be part of this vital and inspiring partnership. If anyone is interested in supporting this program in other regions within the ORL district, please contact the ORL.

Pictured is Tom Christensen (left) and Paul Nixon (right) with new mom Heidi Thiessen with 7-week-old Kaylan and older sister Lexi reviewing their Books for Babies kit at the Vernon Branch of the Okanagan Regional Library.

At Lake Country Branch on Bottom Wood Lake Road, Kiki the Eco Elf will entertain with songs, stories, and puppetry that carry an Earth-friendly message. This free event will be held on Saturday, April 17 from 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact the branch at 250-766-3141.

The Summerland Friends of the Library invite everyone to join for Earth Day Family Fun at the ORL's Summerland Branch and the Summerland Museum on Saturday, April 24. Events will run from 10:00 a.m. until noon and will include a grounds clean-up, planting, stories, games, and refreshments. Please wear comfortable clothes and bring a clean, used 2L milk/juice jug and a food tin. There will also be a used book exchange - so bring a read, take a read!

Happy Earth Day to the planet and all its inhabitants!

The cost of producing and mailing each paper notice is $1.00, whereas an automated telephone notice only costs $0.08 and an email notice is virtually free. The ORL hopes all customers will provide an up-to-date telephone or email address where notices can be delivered. If you have any questions or to update your customer record, please contact your branch. If you want to update the email address on your record, you can do so by logging in with your ORL card number and PIN here: http://ipac.orl.bc.ca/ipac20/ipac.jsp?menu=account#focus

The Revelstoke Branch is taking registrations for its popular preschool storytime. Every Thursday afternoon beginning March 18 until May 6, children aged 3 ½ -5 years old can enjoy Budding Readers Preschool Storytime featuring stories, songs and puppets. The program runs from 1:15 p.m. to 2 p.m. Children register for this program by visiting the Revelstoke Branch at 605 Campbell Avenue, or calling 250-837-5095, or emailing Revelstoke@orl.bc.ca .

The Summerland Branch is taking also registrations for the next round of their storytimes children’s programs. Preschool Storytime for children aged 3 ½ - 5 years will be held each Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. starting March 24 until April 28. Toddlertime for children 2-3 years old with their caregiver will be held each Thursday from 10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. starting March 25 until April 29. Rhymetime for infants under 2 years with their caregiver will be held each Friday from 10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. starting March 26 until April 30. Please register for these programs at the Summerland Branch located at 9525 Wharton Street or call 250-494-5591.

The Oyama Branch will begin its preschool storytime programming for spring beginning March 25. Every Thursday afternoon until April 29, children aged 2-5 years old with their caregivers are welcome to enjoy stories, songs and puppets from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. This is a free, drop-in program. The ORL’s Oyama Branch is located at 15718 Oyama Road. For more information, call the branch at 250-548-3377 during their open hours – Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2 – 4 p.m. and 6 – 8 p.m.

A simple and interesting way to honour Freedom to Read week is to commit to read a book that has been challenged. You can find a list at http://www.freedomtoread.ca/censorship_in_canada/challenged_books.asp 

“The ORL Board is very happy that this community will be able to receive the level of service it deserves,” says Board Chair Ted Bacigalupo. “The current branch is 13,000 square feet, and according to ORL guidelines, it should be approximately 30,000 square feet for the population base it serves.”

The construction of a new branch is feasible thanks to a partnership with the City of Vernon. The City is selling the land to the ORL for $10 and waiving fees associated with necessary zoning and bylaw issues. The site where the new branch will be built was originally purchased by the City in the 1980’s, and has been a parking lot for many years.

“The City is glad it’s able to do this, and in some respects has to thank the vision and foresight of previous Councils,” said Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert during the press conference. “This piece of land was purchased for an intersection that, at that time, they anticipated would be needed. Since then it has been surplus land, and I can tell you our Council is pleased it is now going to such an excellent use at no extra cost to the taxpayers of this community.”

The NORD Board is also supporting this project by applying to the Municipal Finance Authority on the ORL’s behalf to borrow up to $11 million for construction costs. The new branch will have room to expand its collection and more room for programming, study spaces, and computer stations.

“Our customers are crowded in every corner of this building. For example, we squish 80-100 children and parents into our small children’s area for Monday’s storyime,” says Vernon Branch Head Maureen Curry. “We are absolutely thrilled we’ll be able to offer our customers more comfort and expanded services in the new building.”

For more information about the new Vernon library branch, click on this Q&A sheet.

• The Board held elections for Board Officers, with all of last year’s Officers returning for 2010.

• Chair – Ted Bacigalupo, Director, Columbia Shuswap Regional District
• Vice Chair – Noreen Guenther, Councillor, Lake Country
• Finance Committee Chair – Jack Bennest, Councillor, Oliver
• Personnel Committee Chair – Ivan Idzan, Councillor, Salmon Arm
• Policy and Planning Committee Chair – Carol Zanon, Councillor, West Kelowna

• New members joining the ORL Board are Chris Pieper, Mayor of Armstrong, and Gary Thielmann, Councillor in Keremeos.

• The Board received the Financial Statements for 2009.

• The Board received a report from Public Services Manager Pam Medland which highlighted a 3% increase in circulation for 2009, updated the Board on a Kelowna Branch Re-visioning Project, and described a pilot for the Summer Reading Club that will be launched this year.

• The Board reviewed the new ORL website that was launched the previous day.