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South Okanagan Photos

ORL board shaken up by new members

orlbuttonBoard Elections

Elections were held for key positions on the ORL Board. The following have been elected for the 2015 term:

  • Catherine Lord – Board Chair, Councillor, Vernon
  • Lori Mindnich – Board Vice Chair, Councillor, Lumby
  • Lori Mindnich – Finance Committee Chair
  • Karla Kozakevich – Policy and Planning Committee Chair, Director, Okanagan Similkameen Regional District
  • Tundra Baird – Personnel Committee Chair, Councillor, Enderby

Carol Zanon, Councillor, West Kelowna, was appointed as the BC Library Trustees’ Association liaison.

New members joining the ORL Board are Linda Werner, Councillor for Armstrong, Gyula Kiss, Councillor for Coldstream, Caleb Moss, Director for Golden and Area “A”, Tracy Gray, Councillor for Kelowna, Sherry Philpott-Adhikary, Councillor for Keremeos, Owen Dickie, Councillor for Lake Country, Carol Youngberg, Councillor for Osoyoos, Mario Vucinovic, Councillor for Peachland, Rosemary Doughty, Councillor for Princeton, Linda Nixon, Councillor for Revelstoke, Tim Lavery, Councillor for Salmon Arm, Jeff Mallmes, Councillor for Sicamous, and Wayne Carson, Director for Central Okanagan Regional District.

 Recap of 2014

The ORL saw an increase in program attendance of 10% from 2012.  More children attended Summer Reading Club, which helps combat summer learning loss.  Fewer school interactions took place, but program attendance by adults jumped by roughly 40%.  In 2015, the ORL is celebrating people in our communities and their knowledge, wisdom, and experience by inviting people with special skills to make presentations in the library – the theme for the year is The Year of the Wise.

The library changed computer systems in 2014, to mixed reviews.  Staff are working to address patron requests for different features, and a revitalized website is planned for early 2015.

A new service, CELA, was launched to provide service to people with visual and perceptual disabilities.   This service lets eligible people get audiobooks delivered to their homes, and also includes a wide selection of downloadable materials specially formatted for the blind and people with perceptual disabilities.

 Rutland Branch Expansion

Due to increasing public demand, the Rutland Branch will increase its footprint from 6,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet.  In 2014, foot traffic in the branch rose to 155,000 visits, a 12% jump over the prior year.  One frequently requested feature is meeting space.  The expanded facility will have a large meeting room which can be booked by local groups, and a group study space for small groups, including students.  The expanded space is set to be added and available by late spring.

New Strategic Plan

A subcommittee of the Policy and Planning Committee will be struck to begin the process of a new strategic plan. Community input will be a critical component of the new plan.