GVPL Annual Report 2022

2022 ANNUAL REPORT

Message from the Board Chair and CEO

It is with great enthusiasm that we present the 2022 Annual Report for the Greater Victoria Public Library. Throughout the pages of this report, you will find many milestones that have defined our journey over the past year. But beyond serving as an overview of our activities and accomplishments, this report is a celebration of the collective efforts of our dedicated staff, partners and supporters.

The year 2022 was one of reconnecting. As COVID-19 restrictions began to ease, we embraced our role as the community’s living room. From the revival of in-branch Storytimes to celebrations in recognition of our 2022 Emerging Local Authors Collection, this was a year of coming together.

Guided by GVPL’s 2021-2023 Strategic Bridging Plan, we focused energy on meeting our community’s diverse needs and interests. We expanded our digital collections and enhanced our physical spaces, including opening a new purpose-built branch library in Esquimalt. And we planned for the future, taking steps to enhance our technical infrastructure, investing in staff training, and supporting City of Victoria staff with their work to explore the feasibility of redeveloping the Central Branch.

From curated collections celebrating the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to hosting the ‘Bi-Giwen: Coming Home - Truth Telling from the Sixties Scoop’ exhibition, we honoured the diversity and richness of our community and provided opportunities for learning and reflection.

Ensuring our libraries are welcoming, inclusive, vibrant hubs of community interaction remained a top priority.

As we reflect on the past year, we are grateful for the resilience and adaptability demonstrated by our library community. While we celebrate our accomplishments, we also acknowledge the challenges. The changing landscape demands our continued innovation. We are committed to evolving, providing a library experience that exceeds expectations and is responsive to our community’s changing needs.

Thank you for being part of our journey. We invite you to delve into this annual report's pages and explore our library’s transformative impacts during 2022.

With warm regards,

Andrew Appleton, Board Chair, 2023

2022 Greater Victoria Public Library Board, Appointees by Municipality

Central Saanich

Councillor Bob Thompson

Colwood

Councillor Doug Kobayashi

Esquimalt

Councillor Jane Vermeulen

Highlands

Councillor Karel Roessingh

Langford

Dianna Seaton

Councillor Matthew Sahlstrom

Metchosin

Councillor Andy MacKinnon (Chair)

Oak Bay

Councillor Andrew Appleton

Saanich

Emmy Beaton

Matthew Boyd

Joy Davis (Vice Chair)**

Councillor Karen Harper

Nik White

Victoria

Councillor Marianne Alto

Deborah Begoray

Elysia Glover (Vice Chair)*

Shahira Khair

Ramesh Ranjan

View Royal

Councillor Gery Lemon

The library branches of the Greater Victoria Public Library (GVPL) are located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded lands of the Songhees, Esquimalt, and WSANEC Peoples, whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.

* Served as Vice Chair from January to July 2022.

** Served as Acting Vice Chair from July to December 2022.

Digital Literacy and Access

From developing quick-reference user guides for popular digital resources like OverDrive, to expanding walk-in computer service across our system, championing digital inclusion was at the forefront of our work during 2022. With more than 70 public computers across our system and upwards of 99,500 logins during 2022, providing internet and computer access to help library users thrive in an increasingly digital world remains a priority.

has empowered patrons to fit learning into their busy schedules, unlocking their full potential in the digital era.

Recognizing the power of collaboration, we joined forces with public libraries across British Columbia to provide access to a ProQuest digital database containing five million pages of historical newspapers. Anyone with a computer or mobile device in British Columbia now has instant access to more than 125 years of newspaper archives, including The Province (1894-2010), Vancouver Sun (1912-2010), and Times-Colonist (1884-2010).

From school assignments to family research, these archives provide a wealth of information and are an invaluable addition to our digital collection.

In 2022 we made our popular LinkedIn Learning platform even more accessible by introducing the LinkedIn Learning App. The App allows users to access an extensive library of high-quality courses covering a range of topics, including business, technology, and creative skills, anytime, anywhere, even without an internet connection. This flexibility

Responding to patron demand, we expanded our digital magazine collection, introducing Flipster Digital Magazines. With over 75 magazine titles, including exclusive Canadian publications like Small Farm Canada, Walrus, and Canadian Musician, this innovative digital magazine platform has provided library users with even more diverse reading options.

1,820,030 MILLION DIGITAL ITEMS CIRCULATED

GVPL goes Hollywood!

Netflix in Your Neighbourhood is a website that showcases all the Canadian filming locations used in Netflix films and series. In 2022, our Juan de Fuca branch was added to the digital platform when it appeared in the film Rescued by Ruby. Based on true events, the movie tells the story of a state trooper who partners with a clever but naughty shelter pup, Ruby, to chase his dream of joining an elite K-9 unit.

99,527 PUBLIC COMPUTER LOGINS

Focused Community Building

Public libraries are community hubs, playing a vital role as community builders and connectors. From our municipality-themed scavenger hunts; to the Pacific Opera Victoria’s pop-up events held outside our libraries, helping our community connect and thrive was a focus for 2022. With over 800 submissions for our teen and tween book review contest and more than 8,300 children participating in our BC Summer Reading Club program, supporting a vibrant and interconnected Greater Victoria is at the core of our work.

In 2022 we were pleased to welcome ID Clinics back into our space after a two-year pause due to the pandemic. Organized by the Community Social Planning Council (CSPC), this drop-in service provides an essential resource, supporting community members in navigating the paperwork for obtaining or replacing essential identification.

In June, we unveiled our 2022 Emerging Local Authors Collection (ELAC) with a reception in the

courtyard of the Central Branch. With representation from across the South Island – from Otter Point to Cadboro Bay to Sidney - the Collection included more than 125 authors and illustrators, and more than 200 unique titles. Ensuring underrepresented voices have a platform and enabling aspiring writers to connect with a broader audience, ELAC enriches the literary landscape and is an important community-building component.

Extending our impact beyond our physical spaces and taking the time to listen and learn from our community was also a focus of our work in 2022. GVPL is committed to continue working toward true and meaningful reconciliation. From participating in Family Day celebrations hosted by the Victoria Native Friendship Centre (VNFC) to the Songhees Nation-organized South Island Powwow in Royal Athletic Park, learning more about the history, culture, and experiences of Indigenous Peoples remains a priority.

8,320

NEARLY

2 million PHYSICAL ITEMS CIRCULATED

Let’s go on a StoryWalk!

StoryWalks are a great way to incorporate early literacy, physical activity, family engagement, fresh air, and fun! This self-guided activity, which involves the individual pages of a children’s book placed on wooden stakes along a path, has been part of GVPL’s programming since 2017. In 2022, we hosted six StoryWalks with over 280 attendees. StoryWalk Kits can be borrowed from any GVPL branch for home, daycare, or school use and were checked out 112 times during 2022.

OVER

18,990 NEW CARDHOLDERS

BC SUMMER READING CLUB PARTICIPANTS

Making a Difference, Showing our Impact

As part of our ongoing journey to create a more engaging, accessible, and responsive experience for our community, in 2022, we developed a customer service philosophy that guides our staff in their work. Delivering Patron-Centred Customer Service was rolled out across our library system in January 2023 and serves as a roadmap for our team, ensuring reliable, responsive, and patron-centred service. This initiative, an outcome of GVPL’s 20212023 Strategic Bridging Plan, has been enthusiastically embraced by our staff, who are committed to enhancing the experience of each person who connects with the library.

In late 2022, we organized a Staff Professional Development Day, our first since 2019. Staff members from all corners of our organization came together for a full day of sharing and learning. With a focus on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Access, Alden E. Habacon, diversity and inclusion specialist, was our keynote speaker. We firmly believe that our staff plays a pivotal role in creating a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment for everyone. By providing training on diversity, inclusion, and cultural competence, we are taking

significant steps forward in preparing our team to better meet the needs of our community.

We also made it a priority to identify unmet community needs and address service gaps. We collaborated with the City of Victoria’s Welcoming City Advisory Committee; we also participated in NewToBC’s Library Champions Project (LCP), a three-month volunteer program for new immigrants. Making a tangible impact on our community is at the heart of our work; through these partnerships, we are working to serve those who need us most.

3.7 million PHYSICAL ITEMS CIRCULATED

Drop, Cover, and Hold On!

Practicing what to do in the event of an emergency is an important exercise that can help keep us all safe during a crisis. In October, our branches participated in the Great British Columbia ShakeOut Drill. This province-wide earthquake exercise encourages people to practice the internationally recognized “Drop, Cover, and Hold on” procedures. Knowledge is power, especially in times of emergency. By promoting emergency preparedness, we aim to create a community that is proactive, resilient, and more prepared to respond to an emergency.

1,407,957 IN-PERSON VISITS

Making Space for Everyone to be Safe, Respected, and Valued

We believe that libraries are places that belong to everyone. At GVPL, our spaces are safe, inclusive, and open. From facilitating a virtual Indigenous Stories Book Club to using our social media channels to welcome community members into our air-conditioned spaces during last summer’s heat waves, creating a welcoming environment in our physical and virtual spaces remains our priority.

In 2022, our Central Branch hosted three thought-provoking exhibitions, each a gateway to diverse perspectives, traditions, and ideas. The powerful ‘Bi-Giwen: Coming Home - Truth Telling from the Sixties Scoop Exhibition,’ developed in collaboration with the Sixties Scoop Indigenous Society of Alberta (SSISA), shed light on the poignant experiences of Indigenous children forcibly removed from their families into the child welfare system. ‘Hope Meets Action: Echoes Through the Black Continuum,’ created in partnership with the BC Black History Awareness Society and the Royal BC Museum, shares the complicated history of Black British Columbians across the centuries and into the present. ‘COVID In the House of Old’ tells

the story of people whose lives were affected as the virus spread through long-term care facilities. These exhibitions, viewed by hundreds of library users, connected our community, fostering meaningful dialogue.

A highlight of 2022 was opening our new, relocated Esquimalt Branch in the Esquimalt Town Square. Designed with the future in mind, this purpose-built space is a welcoming environment where our community can take part in events and programs, express themselves creatively, or simply sit and relax. The structure boasts eco-friendly features, including a state-of-the-art geothermal heating and cooling system, helping ensure its operations minimize environmental impacts. A focal point of the library is a Play and Learn Pod, located in the children’s area. Purchased with funds from the Friends of the Greater Victoria Public Library, the structure is designed for children five and younger and supports the development of early literacy skills through play.

Art at the Library!

Through a collaboration with the Victoria Arts Council, many of our libraries have Community Art Walls. These walls offer a space where community members can showcase their artistic talents, share their stories, and express their unique perspectives. In addition to being an important platform for local artists, the wider community has benefited from exposure to diverse forms of art. The Community Art Wall initiative makes art accessible to everyone.

Most Popular of 2022

From the most popular TV series on Hoopla to the top circulating digital magazines and most in-demand Mango Language courses, here’s a snapshot of what captured the attention of Greater Victoria library users during 2022.

Most Used Digital Resources

Most Popular Courses on Linkedin Learning

1. Excel Essential Training (Microsoft 365)

2. Project Management Foundations

3. Photoshop 2022 Essential Training

4. Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

5. Power BI Essential Training

“

Folks if you are not aware of LinkedIn Learning check it out! Just an amazing resource with self-paced learning on just an unending list of topics.

1. OverDrive

1. PressReader

3. Kanopy

4. Hoopla

5. LinkedIn Learning

Most Watched TV Series on Hoopla

1. Chelsea Detective (Season 1)

2. Dalgleish (Season 1)

3. Whitstable Pearl (Season 1)

4. Harry Wild (Season 1)

5. My Life is Murder (Season 1)

Most Borrowed Digital Magazines

1. The Economist

2. HELLO!

3. The New Yorker

4. Us Weekly

5. New Scientist

Most Studied Languages (on Mango Languages)

1. Spanish

4. German

Most Popular Audiobook Checkouts in OverDrive

1. The Girl in his Shadow by Audrey Blake

2. 101 Essays that will Change the way you Think by Brianna Wiest

3. All the Light we Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

4. Becoming by Michelle Obama

5. The Dark Hours by Michael Connelly

2. French

3. Italian

5. Japanese

“GVPL is an amazing source of entertainment and learninggrateful for it being 100% free too.”

Joanne T

Thank You, Donors!

This past year gave us much to be thankful for. We are grateful for the generous donations from our community. Every gift to the library matters. Thank you!

And now, we wish to share some of the feedback from our amazing donors.

Thank you for promoting the love of reading!

Judy A.

Thank you for keeping the Greater Victoria community connected and supported. You are awesome! Anonymous

Thank you for going above and beyond to share the wonderful resources at our public libraries here in Saanich. As an ally and settler, I appreciate the work being done to make amends to Indigenous Peoples. With gratitude and appreciation for all you do to include all who enter your spaces and book clubs. As a teacher librarian for many years, I applaud and support your work. Thanks! Annie J.

First year teaching (Early Education). I came to the library to fill my classroom with stories. My favourite part of the day is watching the kids pick up books and flip through the photos and stories and ask me to read to them.

Thank you for giving me that! Shivonne D.

Thanks so much for giving me a safe place to read and find books.

Cieran S.

The sxweŋxwəŋ təŋəxw James Bay library has been an exceptional resource to me, especially during COVID. Thank you to all the staff there Anonymous

I love the library and they are essential community spaces. Samantha T.

GVPL is one of my favourite things about living in Victoria. Thank you for having such a robust foreign languages section and so many great old movies and shows on DVD. Sarah O.

I am grateful to the staff of GVPL for their outstanding service to ALL citizens of Victoria. Thank you for the respect you show to everyone, regardless of age, faith, or social status. Anonymous

You have kept us all connected through the pandemic, thank you.

Erika W.