Press Releases

Richmond Public Library is looking for French-speaking teens to join Le Club Français and help younger French Immersion students with their reading and writing skills. Registration deadline is January 11, 2007. For more information and to register, go to the library’s website at www.yourlibrary.ca and click on “Community”, then “Teens.” Le Club Français takes place on Thursdays, from February 1 – March 29, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the Brighouse (Main) Branch program room, located at 7700 Minoru Gate.“This program is for teens in grade 8-12 who are fluent in French and looking for a chance to help others and work with younger kids,” said children’s librarian Kate Adams. “As a teen helper, you’ll be paired up with a French Immersion student in grade 1-6 to help them with their reading and writing. It’s only a commitment of one hour per week, and you’ll gain really valuable experience,” said Adams. A training workshop will be provided for teens. Space is limited, so register now.

RICHMOND, B.C -Make a resolution to update and revitalize your resume with the help of Ironwood library’s free, one-on-one Resume Clinic. Kwantlen University College employment search expert Joy Moon will be in attendance to help update old resumes and check over more recent ones."Most people don’t understand the function of a resume. The number one purpose of a resume is to get you a job interview," says Moon. "Everything on your resume needs to be absolutely perfect”.Individual appointments for the free Resume Clinic at Ironwood Library are available on January 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st between 10 a.m. and noon. Participants must bring a typed or word-processed copy of their resume. To reserve a fifteen-minute session call (604)231-6468 or visit the Ironwood branch in Ironwood Plaza, Steveston Highway and No. 5 Road.

Richmond Public Library, in partnership with Simon Fraser University, is hosting a Philosopher’s Café in Russian on Dec. 21st from 7-9 p.m. in the Richmond Public Library, Kwok-Chu Lee Living Room, located at 7700 Minoru Gate. This free, drop-in program is for Russian speaking adults, and the topic will be: “How much does our childhood upbringing impact our later life?” Discussion will include how we should educate our children and grandchildren. The moderator for this event will be Dr. Will Tesler. For information on other library events, visit www.yourlibrary.ca/whatson.cfm.

Parents, learn to help your teens and adult children with the transition into adulthood and with the process of career exploration by attending a free program offered by Richmond Public Library. The program, called “How Parents Can Help Their Kids’ Career Development” (program #406) will be held on Wednesday Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Brighouse (Main) Branch, located at 7700 Minoru Gate, Richmond.You can register for this free program by visiting any branch of Richmond Public Library, calling 604-231-6412 or via the Internet at www.yourlibrary.ca/whatson.cfm. Space is limited, so register early. Guest speaker, Irene Giesbrecht of CareerWise Consulting, is a Canadian Certified Counsellor and holds a Masters Degree in Career Development. According to Giesbrecht, as teens transition into adulthood they face unique career challenges not experienced by their parents. She says that ultimately, career satisfaction will depend on their ability to tolerate uncertainties and to be career-self-reliant. At this program parents will learn about the career development process and how they can help, by using specific strategies for encouraging purposeful self-knowledge and career exploration.As a career counsellor, Giesbrecht says she is aware of how little exploration goes into initial career decision-making, and for many young people, it’s hit-and-miss at best. She sees a much greater role for parents to play in this process. Learn more about Giesbrecht at www.irenegiesbrecht.com.

The Cambie Branch of Richmond Public Library is holding a free drop-in program called “Parent Power” on Sat. Oct. 21st from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. for parents and caregivers of young children. Cambie Branch is located in the Cambie Shopping Plaza at Cambie and No. 5 Road in Richmond. Register for this program by visiting any branch of Richmond Public Library, calling 604-273-2223 or via the Internet at www.yourlibrary.ca/whatson.cfm. This program is being held in partnership with Richmond Family Place and the Richmond Child Care Resource and Referral Centre. The guest speaker will discuss how to choose the right day care or preschool for your family, and will also provide information on subsidies and other community resources. Free child minding will be provided. For information on other library events, visit www.yourlibrary.ca/whatson.cfm.

Haven’t seen the renovations at the Richmond Public Library yet? What are you waiting for? Join a free half-hour tour of the Brighouse (Main) Branch, located at 7700 Minoru Gate, and see what all the excitement is about! Free, drop-in tours will take place on Wed. Sept. 13 at 10 a.m.; Tues. Sept. 19 at 8 p.m.; Tues. Sept. 26 at 8 p.m.; and Wed. Oct. 4 at 10 a.m. Please meet at the bottom of the stairs inside the library. Tour is 30 minutes. These tours are not geared to ESL classes. To arrange for an ESL class tour, please call Ping at 604-278-9811 ext. 640. For information on other library events, visit www.yourlibrary.ca/whatson.cfm. “Come and see all the exciting new changes and enjoy a guided tour of the newly renovated branch,” says communications officer, Shelley Civkin. “It’s a very unique library and you’ll be amazed at how much more enjoyable browsing can be,” adds Civkin. “It’s the library’s version of Extreme Makeover.”

Richmond Public Library, in partnership with the Richmond Child Care Resource and Referral Centre, is holding a free, drop-in program called “Choose With Care: How to Find Quality Child Care.” This program takes place on Aug. 21st at 7 p.m. at the Steveston Branch; Aug. 22nd at 7 p.m. at the Ironwood Branch; Aug. 24th at 7 p.m. at the Brighouse (Main) Branch; and Aug. 26th at 4 p.m. at the Cambie Branch. For branch locations please call 604-231-6412 or visit www.yourlibrary.ca. Participants only need to attend one program, not all of them. This program is for parents of children ages 0-12.“This program will help parents make informed decisions about child care, which is a very important part of their child’s development,” says acting head of Steveston Branch, Susan Walters. This program will cover the different childcare options, including in-home care, family daycares, and regular daycares. Parents will also learn about what to expect when their child goes to daycare, ways to make the transition easier, and government subsidies. For information on other library events, visit www.yourlibrary.ca/whatson.cfm.

It’s never too early for winter gardening! Learn how to stretch the season and grow a variety of vegetables through the winter. Come to a free, drop-in program on Tues. July 18th from 7-8 p.m. at the Ironwood Branch of Richmond Public Library, located in the Ironwood Plaza at the corner of Steveston Highway and No. 5 Road. Speaker Arzeena Hamir, an agronomist and outreach coordinator with the Richmond Fruit Tree Sharing Project will discuss choosing vegetable varieties for the winter, timing of planting, and methods of season extension. For information on other library events, visit www.yourlibrary.ca/whatson.cfm.

Escape the crowds and blazing heat by coming to the Steveston Branch of Richmond Public Library on Canada Day, July 1st between 1-4:30 p.m. Check out some books for a chance to reel in a book prize! The contest is open to both children and adults, and six winners will be chosen. There will also be a special storytime for children of all ages at 3 p.m. in the Steveston Library. Children who visit the Library’s booth in the park can make a bookmark to take home. Come and have fun with the whole family at the Steveston Library on Canada Day!

Richmond Public Library is hosting a book launch of Fighting For Canada, by Dennis and Leslie McLaughlin, which chronicles the efforts of Chinese and Japanese Canadians in the military service during World War II. This free, drop-in program takes place on Sat. May 13 at 1:00 p.m. at the Brighouse (Main) Branch, Kwok-Chu Lee Living Room, located at 7700 Minoru Gate. For more information call 604-231-6412.This program is part of Asian Heritage Month, and is sponsored by the library in partnership with the Chinese Canadian Military Museum Society, the National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Centre, the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans Unit 280, the Defense Visible Minority Advisory Group of the Department of National Defense, and the Canadian Forces.“Chinese and Japanese war veterans, as well as representatives from the City of Richmond, the Province of BC, and the Federal government, will be here to recognize the contributions made by Chinese and Japanese Canadians towards Canada’s war efforts,” says Wendy Jang, coordinator of multilingual services. “It will be a very significant event, because the City will be proclaiming this day as the Chinese and Japanese War Veterans’ Day,” added Jang. For information on other library events, visit www.yourlibrary.ca/whatson.cfm.

Author Sandra Harper will discuss her latest book Inside Kenya – Creating Tomorrow: Stories of Twelve Extraordinary Kenyan Lives, at the Ironwood Branch of Richmond Public Library on Wed. May 10th from 7-8 p.m. This free, drop-in program is for adults. The Ironwood Branch is located in the Ironwood Plaza at the corner of Steveston Highway and No. 5 Road.According to the author, each person profiled in her book emerged from poverty to become influential leaders in their communities. Sandra Harper is also the author of Travelling Sun: A healing Journey in Morocco, Tunisia and Spain. For more information on library programs visit www.yourlibrary.ca.

Who says Starbucks is just in the coffee business? The Starbucks Make Your Mark Volunteer Program recently donated $1,000 to the Richmond Public Library to help support literacy in our community.“We’re very grateful to Denise Sharpe, the Richmond District Manager of Starbucks Coffee Canada, and her team of incredibly community-spirited Starbucks employees, who generously volunteered 275 hours on behalf of the library,” said communications officer, Shelley Civkin. Their volunteer efforts were part of the Richmond E-Venti Marathon Fundraiser, which raised $2,500 for the library, to help promote literacy and encourage strong reading habits in children.“The library really admires and appreciates Starbucks’ commitment not only to literacy, but to community involvement. And the best part is that this donation will directly benefit the children in our community,” added Civkin. The money will go towards the purchase of children’s books at the Ironwood Branch Library.

The Richmond E-Venti Marathon was no mere race to the finish. It was, in fact, a race for literacy and the Richmond Public Library.Organizer JJ Hill, coordinator Michelle LaPorte and a host of sponsors and participants came together to raise money for the Richmond Public Library, in an effort to support literacy. At the recent Library Board Meeting, Hill presented a cheque for $2,500 to the Library Board Vice-Chair, Lyn Greenhill. Proceeds from the marathon will go towards the purchase of children’s books for the Ironwood Branch, to help promote literacy and encourage strong reading habits. “We were both surprised and delighted to get a call from Mr. Hill, telling us he’d like to support literacy in our community,” said communications officer, Shelley Civkin. “His efforts to organize this marathon and generously donate the proceeds to the library, are really admirable. I hope that this act of community spirit inspires others to do the same,” added Civkin. Major sponsors for the Richmond E-Venti Marathon included Starbucks Coffee, Rackets & Runners, Brooks, and Konica Minolta. Niemi LaPorte & Dowle Appraisals Ltd. was also a large contributor to this event. The 42.2 km. marathon, which had 51 participants, incorporated the eight Starbucks throughout Richmond. “Dinise Sharpe, Richmond district manager for Starbucks Coffee Canada, was instrumental in facilitating this E-Venti Marathon, and we’re very grateful to them, as well as the other sponsors,” added Civkin.

The Ben and Esther Dayson Judaica Collection at the Richmond Public Library keeps on growing. New additions to the Dayson Collection include books for children, teens and adults on Jewish life and customs, religion, storybooks for children, cookbooks, the Jewish holidays and more. Titles include: The Creative Jewish Wedding; Jewish Holiday Style; The Essential Zohar; The Philosophy of Judaism; Lifetime Guide to Jewish Holidays, Jewish Interfaith Family Life; The Everything Jewish Wedding Book; Tough Questions Jews Ask, and many more titles. The Dayson Collection is also home to a large number of books on the Holocaust and Jewish history.“This is a great collection, the majority of which were generously donated by the Dayson family. Everyone is welcome to borrow these books, so come and visit the Brighouse Branch,” said communications officer, Shelley Civkin.“As part of the newly renovated Brighouse Branch, the Ben and Esther Dayson Reading Room now offers comfortable lounge seating with a fireplace, so you can sit and read a good book, browse a magazine, or just relax,” added Civkin. The Brighouse (Main) Branch is located at 7700 Minoru Gate in Richmond. For more information call 604-231-6416 or visit the library’s web site at www.yourlibrary.ca.

In celebration of Asian Heritage Month, Richmond Public Library is hosting a free reading by well-known children’s author Paul Yee, for kids up to age twelve. It will take place on Sat. April 29th from 1-2 p.m. in the Program Room at the Brighouse Branch, which is located at 7700 Minoru Gate. For more information please call 604-231-6412. No registration is required. Parents or caregivers must accompany their children to this event.“The Asian Heritage Month Society and Tradewind Books are co-sponsoring this event, which is sure to be popular with young children,” said Wendy Jang, coordinator of multilingual services at the library. “Mr. Yee has written a number of books for people of all ages, and his work is outstanding,” added Jang. Yee will be reading from his new picture book, Bamboo, and the illustrator, Shaoli Wang, will be in attendance as well. For information on other library events, visit www.yourlibrary.ca/whatson.cfm.

The Cambie Branch of Richmond Public Library invites the community to join in the free Vaisakhi Family Celebration on April 12 from 4 – 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend this free, drop-in event. The program will take place at the Cambie Branch, which is located in the Cambie Shopping Plaza at Cambie and No. 5 Road in Richmond. For more information please call Lee Anne Smith at 604-273-2223.This program is for all ages and is sponsored by the library, in partnership with SUCCESS, South Asian Settlement Program. “Vaisakhi, a Punjabi cultural celebration marking a harvest festival, is an opportunity for children and families in our community to learn about another culture,” said head of Cambie Branch, Lee Anne Smith. “This fun program will include stories, games and more,” added Smith. Pritpal Grag will lead this event, and children are welcome to participate by performing a story, song or poem about Vaisakhi.

RICHMOND – After a year of major changes, the newly renovated Brighouse (Main) Branch is ready to enjoy. There will be a Grand Re-opening Celebration on Sun. April 2nd from 1-3 p.m. and everyone is welcome to attend. The celebrations will include a puppet show for children at 1:00 p.m., an adult author reading by Barry Kennedy at 1:00 p.m., prize draws for books, refreshments, and more. The official ceremony takes place at 2:00 p.m. The Brighouse Branch is located at 7700 Minoru Gate.“It has been a very challenging year, with all the renovations and construction going on. This celebration will give us a chance to showcase all the exciting and bold new changes that have taken place,” said library board chair, Leslie Wilson. “This $3.05 million renovation project would not have been possible without funding from the City of Richmond and the Canada/British Columbia Infrastructure Grant.”The completed renovation project includes: 3,200 sq. ft. of increased public space, a brand new Kids’ Place, double the space for storytimes and other programs, an improved browsing area for popular fiction, non-fiction, Chinese books, large print, videos and DVDs, a Language Learning Centre, seminar rooms for group study, an improved Computer Centre, expansion of comfortable seating areas with fireplace and lounge seating, a Group Study area, better book displays for browsing, and more. “Our goal was to create a library that’s a ‘destination’ experience for the residents of Richmond, with an attractive atmosphere that’s friendly and inviting. It’s a very unique library, designed to help our customers find books easily, and it offers them a place where they can relax, learn and study,” added Wilson.1/2 2/2“This celebration marks the completion of the renovations, and gives us an opportunity to thank our many donors and partners,” added Wilson. “A number of major donors will be formally acknowledged at this time, including: The Friends of the Library, Mr. Kwok-Chu Lee, Mr. Ben Dayson, and TD Canada Trust. We invite the community to join in the celebrations and enjoy their new, improved library.”

Richmond Public Library, in partnership with Simon Fraser University will be holding a Philosopher’s Café in Russian on March 21, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. in the Atrium of the Richmond Library and Cultural Centre, located at 7700 Minoru Gate in Richmond. This free, drop-in program is for Russian speaking adults, and the topic will be: “Does Life Have an Aim?” This event is part of a series of Philosopher’s Cafés in Russian that will continue until April. The moderator for this event will be Dr. Will Tesler, a scientist with over 30 years experience.

The Steveston Branch of Richmond Public Library is delighted to offer a brand new collection of children’s French books for borrowing. “The Friends of the Library group has generously donated $5,000 towards this purchase, and I’m sure the books will be in great demand by French Immersion students in the area,” said acting head of Steveston Branch, Susan Walters.The collection includes picture books for younger children, easy readers, junior novels, and junior non-fiction. “Each year the Library puts together a wish list of items they need, and then the Friends of the Library decides which items they would like to support. They’ve been incredibly generous over the years, and we’re very grateful for their commitment to the library and to literacy,” added Walters. The expanded French collection at Steveston Library will definitely complement what’s currently available at the French Immersion schools in Richmond.

At their most recent meeting on Jan. 25th, the Richmond Public Library Board elected Leslie Wilson as their new Board Chair. A longtime Richmond resident, she has served on the Library Board since 2001, and is a retired regional manager for the Ministry of Human Resources. Former City Councillor Lyn Greenhill was elected Vice-Chair. She is a longstanding member of the Richmond community. Councillor Bill McNulty will once again serve as City Council representative to the Richmond Public Library Board. Returning Board members include Henry Beh, Greg Smith, and Arlene Yoshikawa. The Library welcomes three new members to their Board. They include: Dulce Cuenca, Susan Leong, and Ron McLeod. New Board member Cuenca has degrees in law, engineering and communications, as well as a broad array of experience in other areas. Leong is the branch manager of the TD Canada Trust, Richmond Centre Branch, and has experience fundraising for the United Way. McLeod is the executive director of the Greater Vancouver Community Services Society and has extensive experience working with non-profits.As the new Library Board Chair, one of Leslie Wilson’s main focuses is on the completion of the Brighouse Branch renovation. “We’re happy to say that we are in the final stage of the Brighouse renovation, and we’re confident that these changes will result in a variety of additional and improved services for our customers,” said Board Chair, Leslie Wilson. “There will be a brand new Language Learning Centre, an additional program room, group study space and seminar rooms, comfortable reading lounges, a new Computer Centre, an improved silent study area, and much more,” added Wilson.“Richmond’s vibrantly diverse community has many devoted and new library users. We continue to look for creative ways to make the library experience satisfying, fun and relaxing for our customers. Our goal is to provide collections and services for lifelong learning, in a variety of languages and formats, and respond to our customers’ expressed needs,” said Wilson. “It has always been a priority to provide a comfortable atmosphere for our customers, in which they can explore and enjoy traditional services as well as new technologies,” added Wilson. “We continue to embrace the challenges that face our growing community, and we look forward to offering new ways to meet the needs of Richmond citizens.”Richmond Public Library is an award-winning library system and the most heavily used community facility in Richmond. It is committed to the goals of education, lifelong learning and free access to information. The library had over 1.3 million visitors last year.

RICHMOND, B.C – Internet users with concerns about viruses and other security issues can learn how to reduce their risks at an upcoming free seminar. Computer security expert Allan Alton will speak at the Ironwood Library on Wednesday, February 22 at 6:30 p.m. about a variety of online threats. “We typically think of hackers, viruses, and unsolicited e-mail as typical Internet issues,” says Alton. “Online fraud, stalking, and identity theft are potentially even more devastating.” Alton has been involved in the computer security field since 1983 and has been giving public education seminars since 2001. The Ironwood information session will be presented in non-technical language that everyone can understand. “After making a list of the main issues a home user needs to be aware of, I tried to think of ways to explain it in terms familiar to everyone,” says Alton.The free Internet Security Seminar (program #241) takes place on Wednesday, February 22 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Ironwood Branch of Richmond Public Library. The Branch is located in the Ironwood Plaza, at the corner of No. 5 Road and Steveston Highway. The program is free, but registration is required. To register, visit any branch of RPL, call 604-231-6468, or register online at www.yourlibrary.ca/whatson.cfm.

Richmond Public Library, in partnership with Simon Fraser University will be holding a Philosopher’s Café in Russian on Feb.21, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. in the Atrium of the Richmond Library and Cultural Centre, located at 7700 Minoru Gate in Richmond. This free, drop-in program is for Russian speaking adults, and the topic will be: “Is Western civilization really regressing?” This event is part of a series of Philosopher’s Cafés in Russian that will continue until April. The moderator for this event will be Dr. Will Tesler, a scientist with over 30 years experience.

Richmond Public Library, in partnership with Simon Fraser University will be holding a Philosopher’s Café in Russian on January 17, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. in the Atrium of the Richmond Library and Cultural Centre, located at 7700 Minoru Gate in Richmond. This free, drop-in program is for Russian speaking adults, and the topic will be: “Modern science and religion: How progress in natural sciences explains world creation and evolution”. This event is part of a series of Philosopher’s Cafés in Russian that will continue until April. The moderator for this event will be Dr. Will Tesler, a scientist with over 30 years experience.