Press Releases

Richmond, BC – Richmond Public Library is excited to announce the launch of its new strategic plan, Your Library, Our Future, designed to guide how the library continues to show up for the community, while updating and reaffirming its mission and vision.

The comprehensive strategic plan, developed over the past year, outlines clear intentions for the next four years and reflects the library’s commitment to relationships, service, innovation, fun, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“We are excited to introduce our new strategic plan, which will serve as a guiding force for the library through to 2028,” says Caty Liu, Board Chair. “This plan demonstrates our dedication to our continued mission, ‘Creating opportunities to learn, connect and belong’.”

Goals of the 2024-2028 Strategic Plan:

• Reduce and remove barriers to improve accessibility
• Champion intellectual freedom and freedom of expression
• Provide excellent customer service
• Strengthen our social and economic sustainability
• Improve brand recognition and engagement

The strategic plan also emphasizes the importance of supporting inclusive and equitable civic engagement in library spaces, implementing and enhancing delivery and mobile services, refining evaluation frameworks, prioritizing staff recruitment and training, strengthening customer feedback channels, and ensuring organizational readiness for decolonizing approaches, among other key priorities.

“Thank you to each and every community member who contributed to the public consultation process, and to library staff, community partners, the Board of Trustees, and our supporters at the City of Richmond. We are confident that this strategic plan will position us to best support Richmond’s diverse and growing community,” added Liu. “Our team is fully committed to executing this plan and delivering exceptional value to our customers, partners, and community.”

For more information about Richmond Public Library and to view the full strategic plan, please visit www.yourlibrary.ca.

Richmond, BC – It’s hard to believe but September is almost here! That means that like all good things, Summer Reading Club must come to an end, but not before we celebrate the reading successes of the almost 4,000 children and teens who participated! Please join us for the annual Summer Reading Club Finale happening on Sunday September 8.

Everyone who participated in Summer Reading Club is eligible to receive a special completion medal. Starting Wednesday August 28, you can stop by any RPL location to pick up your medal.

Then, mark your calendars and get ready to celebrate with us at our annual Finale event on Sunday September 8 from 1:30pm to 3:30pm at the Brighouse library. Join the Mayor, library board members and local dignitaries at this free, fun-filled, family-friendly event, which will feature hands-on literacy-themed activities and games. Children who have not already picked up their medals can also receive them at the event.

“BC Summer Reading Club motivates kids to read for fun and engage with the library all summer long” says Kate Adams, Head of Children & Family Services. “Join us in celebrating the work and dedication of all of this year’s readers.”

This event is drop-in; no registration is required. For more information, visit https://www.yourlibrary.ca/srckids. We can’t wait to see you there!

Richmond residents and community members are invited to celebrate Pride Week from Monday, July 29 through Sunday, August 4 with free activities and events for all ages. Events offered by the City of Richmond, in partnership with Community Associations and Societies and the Richmond Public Library, include printmaking and zine-making workshops, fitness classes and talks with leaders from the 2SLGBTQI+ community. In addition, the Progress Pride Flag will be displayed at City Hall during Pride Week in support of Richmond’s 2SLGBTQI+ communities.

The theme for this year’s Pride Week in Richmond is “Pride Together”, which symbolizes the power of community spirit in fostering a city where everyone feels a sense of belonging.

“The City of Richmond is a welcoming, inclusive city that is proud to support and celebrate our 2SLGBTQI+ communities,” said Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “Pride Week is an opportunity to showcase our spirit and promote inclusion and belonging. We encourage everyone to participate in the many activities across Richmond and be a part of celebrating the diversity in our community.”

There are over 20 Pride Week events happening at City and partner sites across Richmond. The programs and events planned are open to all residents, community members and visitors, and feature local leaders, artists and community members.

Some highlights of the week include:

Drag Queen Karaoke
Tuesday, July 30, 5:45-8:00pm
Celebrate the power of pride by standing in the spotlight or taking in the tunes while enjoying light refreshments. Open to 2SLGTBQI+ community members and allies 13+ years.
East Richmond Community Hall, 12360 Cambie Road

Branscombe House Art Workshop Series: Pride Summer
Wednesday, July 31, 4:30-6:00pm and 6:30-8:00pm
Explore various meanings of home and belonging at this free printmaking tote bag workshop with Branscombe House artist-in-resident Peisen Ding. Open to 2SLGBTQI+ community members and allies 16+ years, with instruction offered in English and Mandarin.
Branscombe House, 4900 Steveston Highway

Pride Swim
Saturday, August 3, 9:30-11:30am
Grab a swimsuit and friends and loved ones for an unforgettable, free session of aquadance performances, energetic dancing and a whole lot of pride celebrating inclusivity, equality and acceptance. Open to all ages.
South Arm Outdoor Pool, 10100 South Arm Place

Stories Told With Pride: A Dialogue with Dr. Marylee Stephenson
Sunday, August 4, 2:00-3:00pm
Learn about Dr. Stephenson’s rich history as an activist, storyteller, stand-up comic and key figure in Vancouver’s gay rights movement through a Q&A and storytelling experience. Open to all ages.
Richmond Public Library (Brighouse Branch), 100-7700 Minoru Gate

For a full list of Pride Week events and activities, visit richmond.ca/pride.

https://www.richmond.ca/city-hall/news/2024/pride18jul2024.htm

Richmond, BC – Get ready for an action-packed summer of reading, sharing and learning! Registration for Richmond Public Library (RPL)’s Summer Reading Clubs and July programs opens on Wednesday, June 19 at 9:00am.

“A community that reads together thrives together!” says Caty Liu, Library Board Chair. “I’m proud that Richmond Public Library offers summer reading programs and activities for kids, teens, and adults, sparking a love of reading and bringing people together through stories.”

The annual kids’ Summer Reading Club, presented in partnership with BCLA, provides a fun way for children to enjoy reading during the school break, making the return to classrooms in the fall smoother; this year’s provincial theme is World of Curiosities! Stop by any library location to register and pick up a free booklet for tracking weekly reading progress, and visit throughout the summer for regular prize draws and free programs, starting July 9 with a visit from Science World! As always, summer reading will conclude with the much-loved Finale event in September. Visit https://www.yourlibrary.ca/srckids/ to learn more.

New for this year, and in collaboration with the City of Richmond and the Richmond Olympic Oval, RPL will be introducing some unique physical literacy opportunities too – stay tuned for more information!

The Summer Reading Club for teens aged 12 to 18 is back too! Pick up a Bingo card at any library location and complete fun challenges for a chance to win prizes like new books, restaurant coupons, and activity passes for places like West Richmond Pitch & Putt and EXIT Escape Room. Enjoy free programs in July and August, including Chess Club, Book Club, and Sign Language Club. Teen artists can also submit original artwork to be featured in next year’s Teen Reading Club promotion. Learn more at https://www.yourlibrary.ca/srcteens/.

Finally, and back for its third year, the Richmond Reads Summer Reading Club for adults features “High Society,” a new thriller by Canadian author and emergency physician Daniel Kalla. Pick up your Summer Reading Challenge booklets at any library location. Complete at least three challenges for a chance to win a Kobo eReader, with weekly prize draws starting the second week of July. Join three book club discussions on different Daniel Kalla books and meet the author in person at Brighouse library on Wednesday, July 3. More details are available at https://www.yourlibrary.ca/srcadults/.

A full listing of what’s happening can be found by visiting https://www.yourlibrary.ca/ or by calling the library at 604-231-6413.

Richmond, BC – As part of Richmond Public Library (RPL)’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, the library is proud to announce the return of the Indigenous Author Series, highlighting the talents of Indigenous authors and artists.

Scheduled for select dates in June with more to come in the fall, this series highlights both well-known and emerging speakers and presenters. Join the library at this powerful and inspiring series that includes writing and dance workshops, storytelling, and author visits for both children and adults.

“The Library Board is committed to celebrating the diverse interests of our community,” says Caty Liu, Library Board Chair. “These accomplished Indigenous presenters will explore poetry, fiction and novel writing, and dance, providing unique opportunities and fostering stronger connections within our community.”

To view the biographies for each of the authors and artists, and to register, visit the library’s events calendar or call 604-231-6413.

We look forward to announcing the fall presenter lineup later this summer. Stay tuned!

Richmond, BC – Back by popular demand, Richmond Public Library is proud to welcome the Human Library® on Sunday, April 28, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at the Brighouse library.

The first Human Library® event was held in Denmark in 2000, and has since expanded around the world, establishing itself as a global learning platform, creating space for dialogue between human Books and their readers. The natural conversations that take place between Books and readers can not only help challenge prejudices and stereotypes but also contribute more broadly to unjudging someone and creating greater cohesion across social, ethnic, and religious divisions.

During the Human Library® event, readers will see a listing of available Book titles and select one to “borrow” for a 20-minute reading slot. Readers and Books will then have a one-on-one conversation where Books will introduce themselves and readers will have the opportunity to ask questions. The Books are all local volunteers interested in connecting and sharing their stories of overcoming personal hardship with others.

For those who attended last year’s inaugural event at Richmond Public Library, a few familiar titles will be available as well as a variety of new ones, each exploring complex topics that will challenge pre-existing views.

“Hopefully I can break some of that stigma about mental health, substance abuse and homelessness,” one of the Books shared, as she prepares for the upcoming event. “To see the struggles in my life have led me to be able to help so many people that have similar struggles, and that there is a happy ever after for the way each individual would like to see their life play out.”

This is a drop-in event and participants will be invited to borrow as many Books as they like on a first-come, first-served basis until “last call” at 3:30pm. Teens, adults, and seniors are all encouraged to attend. Learn more on Richmond Public library’s website.

Richmond, BC – Youth ages 12 to 19 are invited to take part in a unique five-month project, allowing them to hone their artistic expression and techniques with local artist, Keely O’Brien.

Express Yourself is a community-engaged art project led by O’Brien that will bring Richmond youth together to explore their sense of identity through creative expression. This project, launching on April 10 and running through September 25, is part of the 2024 Engaging Artists in Community Program and is commissioned by Richmond Public Art in partnership with Aspire Richmond and Richmond Public Library.

O’Brien will engage youth through a variety of artistic mediums while providing an inclusive and accessible space for youth of all abilities to create and learn. Participants can look forward to developing their techniques in collage, drawing, printmaking, mask-making, storytelling and zine creation.

“Art can be a tool for youth to build, create, imagine, and learn; to understand who they are and who they will be as they navigate the world,” says Jason Liu, Manager, Youth Connections at Aspire Richmond.

Bi-weekly workshops will run on Wednesday afternoons at the Brighouse Library from April to June. In July, there will be a week-long “summer camp”, and bi-weekly workshops will resume in September. In addition, two Saturday drop-in pop-up workshops will be offered in May and June. The series will conclude in October with a community celebration and the presentation of legacy artwork as part of Culture Days, which runs from September 20 to October 13.

To register for the bi-weekly series of project workshops and/or summer camp, visit the library website.

About the Artist

Keely O’Brien (she/her) is an interdisciplinary artist based in Richmond. Her art practice includes both visual arts and theatre creation. She loves to work with her hands and collaborate with community members of all ages. Her work aims to celebrate the creativity and community in the place and people around her. O’Brien holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts, BFA from Simon Fraser University (2016).

Richmond, BC – Richmond Public Library, in partnership with the Lord’s Harvest Fellowship, is once again offering free Income Tax Clinics at the Brighouse library. Trained volunteers will help community members with low income to file their income tax returns. This year’s clinics will continue to follow a drop-off and pick-up format.

To qualify for this service, individuals must have a maximum income of $35,000 and a couple must have a maximum income of $45,000 plus $2,500 per child. Couples will need to sign up for one appointment per person.

Interested community members can register for an appointment by calling 604-231-6413 or visiting Brighouse library’s second floor Ask Me desk. A piece of government-issued ID and all relevant tax slips such as T4, T5 and Canada Child Benefit slips must be brought to the appointment. All print documents will be returned to the participant at their pick-up time.

“It has been an amazing 13 years of partnership with Richmond Public Library in offering the Income Tax Clinic,” says Pastor Abe Lagayan, representative of The Lord’s Harvest Fellowship. “We are always thankful and blessed in extending help to seniors, students, new immigrants and people with modest incomes, to prepare and file their income taxes. We are also grateful to Richmond Public Library for their continuous support in providing this vital service to the community!”

The clinics are offered in English and run on Saturdays from March 2 to April 27 (no clinic on March 30), with drop-off appointments available between 10:30am and 3:30pm.

Richmond, BC – As part of their commitment to protecting the public’s right to freely choose what to read, libraries across Canada including Richmond Public Library (RPL) recognize Freedom to Read Week annually—raising awareness about the impacts of censorship and informing the community about how and why books are challenged. This year, the event takes place from February 18-24.

Looking to get involved? RPL hosts a variety of initiatives for community members to read, learn and explore various topics:

• Explore the library’s online collection of some popular books that have been challenged.
• Browse displays of banned and challenged books.
• Attend one of the library’s book club meetings, which offer an opportunity to share ideas with other readers, broaden horizons and gain different perspectives.
• Gain exposure to a wider variety of books through the library’s Your Next Great Read service, where a librarian will make book suggestions tailored to individual reading interests.

Cantonese-speaking community members are also invited to attend an author visit by two Hong Kong authors on February 20, who will be discussing the writing and publishing process for their books, which are presently banned in Hong Kong.

“At Richmond Public Library, we are committed to expanding our community’s horizons and understanding. Our goal is to ensure that everyone feels welcome to read, think and believe what they so choose,” says Susan Walters, Chief Librarian. “Intellectual freedom gives people the right to think for themselves. By ensuring equitable access to a diverse collection of over 420,000 digital and physical items, we champion this fundamental right for our community.”

Hundreds of mainstream and lesser-known books, movies, magazines and more have been challenged in Canada over the last 41 years. In that time, Richmond Public Library has received, reviewed and resolved 120 customer challenges, including three last year.

The City of Richmond stands with the library in support of intellectual freedom. The Mayor has issued a proclamation endorsing Freedom to Read Week, available on the library’s website and at all library branches.

Building on the library’s commitment to supporting the community’s freedom to choose, Richmond Public Library is excited to offer the opportunity to provide input on what the priorities of the library should be and help ensure they reflect the community’s diversity for years to come. From spaces to collections, to programs, and so much more, until February 25, Richmond library visitors, newcomers, and everyone in between can share their perspectives at www.letstalkrichmond.ca as part of Your Library, Our Future.

To learn more about Freedom to Read Week, visit www.freedomtoread.ca.

Richmond, BC – Richmond Public Library welcomes the Year of the Green Dragon! On Saturday, February 24 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, Brighouse library will host an all-ages, cross-cultural celebration that honours customary tradition and highlights artistic demonstrations.

Community members will be able to enjoy a festive lion dance, followed by a Kung Fu demonstration, a musical showcase that includes traditional Chinese songs of the new year and a guzheng performance.

For those looking to experience hands-on activities, there will be a calligraphy station, lantern riddles, a compass demonstration and fortune telling. Families can also take part in face painting, paper crafts and games.

The library will also be giving away exclusive Lunar New Year stickers and 3D prints, custom-created using the library’s new Cricut cutter and 3D printers. For those interested in learning more about how to create these unique items, Launchpad staff will be on-hand to demonstrate.

The library would like to thank all of the community partners whose contributions have helped make this celebration possible: Celia Leung, Rudy Chiang, Robin Leung, Kin Fung Athletic Group, Wang Heng Wushu Taichi Institute, E Show Dance, Fangfei Guzheng, Ronald Zhang and RPL’s Chinese Couplets Study Club, Richmond Family Place, Big Bear Education, Touchstone Family Association, and S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Richmond Chinese Women’s Club and the Richmond Photography Club.

To learn more about this free celebration, visit the library’s events calendar. 恭喜發財!

Richmond, BC – At their January 31 meeting, the Richmond Public Library Board welcomed new Trustees Jennifer Gervès-Keen, Ritchie Po, Ashley Sandhu and Angeline Singh, appointed by Richmond City Council for a two-year term. The new Board Trustees represent a diverse range of backgrounds and share a strong passion for community and library services.

The Board also re-elected Caty Liu as Chair and elected Denise Hui as Vice-Chair.

Councillor Chak Au returns as the City Council representative, and further returning Trustees include Sherine Merhi and Yvonne Yong.

The Board would like to thank outgoing Board Trustees Jordan Oye, Nabeel Abrahani, Chaslynn Gillanders and Rachel Ling for their years of dedication and service to the library and community.

Board Chair Caty Liu says, “The Richmond Public Library Board has been working closely with staff and their external partner in preparation for the library’s new Strategic Plan, which is well underway. The Board looks forward to connecting with the community through the public consultation, running now through February 25, and creating a vision for library services that will continue supporting Richmond residents and responding to community needs.”

All Richmond residents are invited to join one of four community workshops in February or take part in a short survey. Help shape the future of Richmond Public Library at https://www.letstalkrichmond.ca/rpl-survey.

Richmond, BC – Together with Mary Wilson, a passionate local advocate, and the City of Richmond, Richmond Public Library (RPL) is welcoming the community to attend a variety of Black History Month programs and activities for all ages throughout February. The “can’t-miss” event of the series is a talk with Sheila Murray, author of Finding Edward, on Sunday, February 25. Participants can attend either in-person or online.

“In Canada 29 years ago, the House of Commons proclaimed February to be Black History Month,” said Mary Wilson. “The act of gathering together with community to listen, share, learn and act on our history is this year’s theme and is driving how we will honour our heroes this February and all year round, and share our historical and ongoing contributions to Canada.”

Visit the library for a host of other in-person events being offered throughout the month, including:

• A musical performance for children and families by well-known musician and gospel choir director Checo Tohomaso on February 3.
• Film screenings of Black-centred stories with Black-led casts, as well as titles that celebrate and recognize Black History Month, featuring family films on Saturdays and films for adults on February 6 and 20.
• A community table showcasing this year’s Black History Month stamp featuring Mary Ann Shadd, an influential abolitionist and the first Black woman to publish a newspaper in North America, hosted by Canada Post representative Jackie Bailey.
• An interactive presentation on Black inventors, with prizes, by Lindagene Coyle, Vice President Emerita from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, on February 25.
• Plus, all month long, there will be “Who am I?” trivia activities at all library locations for children to learn more about local Black history and personalities.

Visit RPL’s events calendar to browse all Black History Month programs.

If you are looking to learn more about Black history, be sure to explore the library’s Black History Month book lists created by library staff:

• Canadian Books for Children
• Canadian Books for Teens
• Canadian Fiction & Poetry for Adults
• Canadian Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs for Adults