Press Releases

Richmond, BC – Richmond Public Library is proud to be an essential source of information and learning for the community. This year, we asked you which library services matter the most. Together, we engaged in thousands of conversations through surveys, an open house and focus groups. Over 7,000 community members contributed to our public consultation process. For that, we thank you!

“Library staff are passionate about what they do to support the dreams and goals of Richmond residents, from the smallest children to seniors, and everyone in-between”, said Susan Walters, Chief Librarian. “Our new strategic plan will provide a framework to help us offer quicker access to information, specialized materials and resources for different interests, deliver innovative services and provide meaningful opportunities to connect with your community.”

You will see your ideas reflected in the new strategic goals and our new vision, mission and values represent the library’s commitment to each of you. Based on what you told us, our five priorities are to:

• Build and grow our community• Communicate who we are and what we do• Expand access to programs, services and collections• Develop and leverage our resources• Reimagine space for our community

Susan Koch, Library Board Chair, said “On behalf of the Library Board and staff, I would like to sincerely thank and acknowledge the contributions of all who shared their feedback with us. I would also like to thank our community partners and the City of Richmond for their ongoing support.”

We are excited to reimagine and explore the possibilities of enhanced library services and invite the community to learn more. The new strategic plan is posted online at http://rpl.yourlibrary.ca/account/about_rpl/strategic_plan and at each branch.

Richmond, BC – December is almost here, and its arrival will surely bring excitement, social engagements, shopping, fun and a hectic schedule. Your library is here to help with a host of fun programs and events that will offer a break from the hustle and bustle of the season. Best of all, all programs are free to attend!

The library’s Brighouse branch kicks things off on Saturday December 1st at 10:30am with a string instrument concert by the Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra. Then, on Thursday December 13th at 4:00pm, join us for “Winter Wonderland: A Holiday Celebration”, featuring a puppet show, sing-along, green screen photo booth, games and a self-guided, indoor Storywalk®.

There’s family-friendly holiday fun planned at the library’s smaller branches too. Come to Ironwood on Tuesday December 4th or Thursday December 13th dressed in your pajamas for “Cozy Storytime” at 7:00pm. Steveston is offering a winter sing-along on Wednesday December 19th at 4:00pm. Cambie is offering winter-themed writing games and stories on Thursday January 3rd at 3:30pm.

The library will be running a reading challenge throughout winter break called “The 14 Days of Reading”. Pick up an activity list at any RPL branch starting December 23rd and complete the challenge for a chance to win book prizes.

For more information about these and other library programs, be sure to visit our events calendar at http://rpl.yourlibrary.ca/events_calendar or call 604-231-6412.

Richmond, BC – Richmond Public Library is pleased to announce that Susin Nielsen, a Vancouver-based award-winning author, will be speaking at the Ironwood branch on Wednesday, November 21st at 9:30am. Susin recently presented at the Vancouver Writers Festival on her newest title No Fixed Address, about a 12 year old boy who lives with his mother in a van on the west side of Vancouver. The familiar local places in this and other books written by Susan resonate with the tween, teen and young adult audience she targets with her writing.

Her books address important issues such as bullying, blended families, the hidden homeless and friendship in a poignant yet entertaining way. Library staff received this review from an adult reader who recently finished reading No Fixed Address and has already registered for the author event: “I just wanted to crawl into the book and drag Felix out and give him a good home! I introduced the book to my Bookclub and they want to read it – after I get it autographed!”

Hurry! Space is limited for this free event and is expected to sell out. Adults and parents with homeschooled children aged Grade 6 and older are invited to register for this event. To register, visit www.yourlibrary.ca/events, or call the library at 604-231-6412.

Richmond, BC – The library, together with the City of Richmond, the Bayit, Chabad of Richmond, Ebco Group of Companies and Lightspeed POS, is proud to present the 30th anniversary Menorah lighting.

The festivities mark the beginning of Chanukah and take place on Sunday, December 2nd, on the Cultural Centre plaza in front of Brighouse branch, located at 7700 Minoru Gate in Richmond. There will be family activities beginning at 2:00pm, followed by a ceremony and the lighting of the Menorah at 3:00pm. At the ceremony, a commemorative bronze plaque will be unveiled. Then, all are welcome to stay and celebrate with refreshments, starting at 3:30pm.

The 25 foot tall Menorah is one of the largest in the world. It was commissioned by Helmut and Hugo Eppich, the founders of the Ebco Group of Companies and was designed by renowned Canadian architect Arthur Erickson.

This is a not-to-be missed annual event for Richmond residents and families.

Joe DaSilva, Ebco Group says "In the thirty years I have organized the Menorah lighting event, Helmut and Hugo Eppich’s commitment and resolve to sponsor the yearly Menorah lighting has never diminished but grown stronger."

Susan Koch, Library Board Chair says “The library is honoured to participate in this annual coming together of the community, where all Richmond residents, regardless of their background or faith, can learn, understand and celebrate the Jewish tradition of Chanukah.”

The Menorah lighting will take place on the Cultural Centre plaza. The ceremony and family activities will be inside the library and the Cultural Centre Performance Hall.

Richmond, BC – Richmond Public Library is pleased to announce the return of the 11th annual Science Bash on Friday November 23rd. This event is free to attend and takes place from 1 – 4 p.m. at the Brighouse (Main) Branch, located at 7700 Minoru Gate.

Science Bash is a partnership between the library and local science-based organizations to celebrate and promote science, technology and STEM-based learning. There are approximately 12 organizations participating this year, including: STEM Aces Education, the Richmond Nature Park, Robokids and more.

The goal of this event is to encourage families to explore and learn about the different branches of science and technology and speak with professionals about possible careers and areas of interest. All organizations hosting a booth will incorporate fun activities for children such as illusions, experiments with hands-on science demonstrations that together, create an enriched learning atmosphere.

Friday November 23rd is a district professional development day and families are encouraged to come to the library to enjoy the day’s events together.

"We are excited to see that RPL has evolved into a natural place to support STEM in our community,” says Jason Zhang, founder of Robokids Richmond. “We are very happy to be able to contribute."

Richmond, BC – If you love reading, connecting with local authors and meeting community members with similar interests, look no further than the October Author Events series, coming this fall to Richmond Public Library’s Brighouse branch. Author events offer the community unique opportunities to learn first-hand about topics of interest.

The library welcomes the following authors, who will meet with the community at six different events, taking place from October 2nd to 30th:

Tuesday Oct. 2 6 – 7:30 PM Amy Yiu, Jo Jo Wang and Mengdi XiaDietitians at Home Co-authors Amy, Jo Jo and Mengdi will talk about their bilingual cookbook and share their favourite fall recipe.

Wednesday Oct. 34 – 5 PM James McCann“Welcome to Writing Your Novel Dungeons and Dragons Style” Hear how James and other contemporary writers have been influenced by the popular game Dungeons and Dragons.

Saturday Oct. 132:30 – 4 PM Jessie Sutherland Worldview Skills: Transforming Conflict from the Inside Out Learn about and discuss skills to address diverse social issues such as poverty, the opioid crisis and affordable housing.

Thursday Oct. 257 – 8:30 PM Julia Lin Miah Shadows of the Crimson SunFrancis Pring-MillIn Harmony with the Tao: A Guided Journey on the Tao Te Ching Julia will read excerpts from her stories of Taiwanese-Canadians and their immigrant experiences. Francis will speak about his book on the densely written, ancient spiritual text, the Tao Te Ching.

Saturday Oct. 272:30 – 4 PM Nathanael LausterThe Death and Life of the Single-Family House: Lessons from Vancouver on Building a Livable City Professor Lauster will present his research on single family housing and why Metro Vancouver has moved away from this specific housing form.

Tuesday Oct. 307 – 8:30 PM Jim TanakaChanging Tide: Vanishing Voices of Nikkei Fishermen and Their Families Jim will talk about this anthology stories about the enduring bonds of family, community and culture of Japanese-Canadian fishermen and their families

All events are free to attend but interested participants must register in advance at http://rpl.yourlibrary.ca/events_calendar.

Richmond, BC – Richmond Public Library is excited to announce that our popular “Learning Together” family literacy program will return to both the Ironwood and Cambie library branches in the fall of 2018. Sponsored by the Ministry of Advanced Education, this eight-week program for preschoolers and caregivers will run at Ironwood on Wednesdays from September 19 to November 7 and at Cambie on Thursdays from September 20 to November 8, from 10 AM to 12 PM at both locations. Registration is required at one location only.

This program helps parents to discover new ways to connect with their child and make learning fun. Parents and children ages 3-5 will learn how to develop early literacy skills and a love of stories and reading within everyday life. Skills emphasized in this program include learning the alphabet and numbers, exposure to digital media and physical activity.

“The Learning Together Program helped (my daughter) a lot to have interest in reading books,” said Ruth, parent of two children who have attended. “Because of that, my other girl who has special needs was really interested too.”

Activities, storytime and snacks are included in each weekly session.

For more details about this program, including dates, times and how to register, interested participants should check out our online event calendar at www.yourlibrary.ca/events, or call the library at 604-231-6412.

Richmond, BC – Richmond Public Library’s new book dispenser is now ready for you to open the door and explore at the Hamilton Community Centre!

This easy-to-use self-serve book dispenser is the first of its kind in BC. It is accessible during Community Centre hours, which are Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 9:30 pm and weekends from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. A Richmond Public Library card is all you’ll need to unlock the door and check out books seven days a week.

Be sure to join us at the Hamilton Community Centre on Wednesday September 19th at 10 am for the official launch event. Join Mayor Malcolm Brodie, library staff and community members as we celebrate this expansion of library services for the Hamilton community.

While Richmond Public Library doesn’t have a physical branch located in Hamilton, with generous funding approved by Richmond City Council, the book dispenser provides an innovative new way to better meet the needs of the growing Hamilton community.

"I encourage my Hamilton neighbours to check out the dispenser,” says Pauline Streckos, a Hamilton community member and avid library user. “It’s filled with a wide variety of reading material, offering more choices, more often."

We are excited to be open more than just Saturdays in Hamilton! Come try out the new book dispenser soon!

Richmond, BC – It’s not too late to join Summer Reading @ Your Library. Come and join over 3,800 kids, 150 teens and 100 adults who have already signed up. Summer Reading @ Your Library offers book-based challenges along with unique reading events and achievement awards, all aimed at encouraging a life-long love of literacy and reading.

A fabulous summer of reading will conclude with the Summer Reading Finale on Saturday September 8th from 1:30 – 4 PM. Join the Richmond Public Library Board, local dignitaries and community members as we celebrate the achievements of Summer Reading participants. Following the medal and trophy presentations, all are welcome to explore and enjoy family-friendly games and activities.

This free event will take place at the Brighouse branch with activities outside on the plaza (weather-dependent).

Interested in reading or participating in library programs but not a member yet? Stop by any branch and sign up today! It’s free, it’s easy and there are so many benefits to being a member.

Richmond, BC – Richmond Public Library is committed to connecting the community with interesting, relevant and compelling speakers and storytellers. On Sunday September 16th from 11 – 12:30 PM, the library welcomes storyteller Dianna David for an up-close and personal talk at the Performance Hall in the Richmond Cultural Centre.

During this free event called “Make Moves: A Transformational Experience”, Dianna will captivate participants with a live performance drawing from her last TEDx Talk, followed by an interactive dialogue with the audience. Come and be mesmerized as Dianna infuses theatre, hip hop, mechanical engineering, miming, street performance and public speaking into her presentation to create a unique and compelling story told through movement.

“Stories have the power to conjure up emotions, evoke memories, tantalize the imagination, and shift perspectives,” says David. “Stories are how we connect to ourselves and each other, on a personal, cultural and human level.”

Interested? You must have a Richmond Public Library card to register for this event, which is expected to sell out. Be sure to reserve your spot soon! Sign up here: http://bit.ly/2AWyjnA.Don’t have a Richmond Public Library card yet? Visit any Richmond Public Library branch to sign up for free.

Richmond, BC – Today, Richmond Public Library announces its participation in Library Day at the Fair at the PNE. Thanks to a partnership between the Fair, Raise a Reader, Tim Hortons, and Public Library InterLINK, fair-goers will receive a $6 gate admission ($9 savings) to the Fair at the PNE on Wednesday, August 22nd by presenting a BC Library card! Save the extra cash—or use it to buy some mini doughnuts!

“InterLINK and its member libraries are thrilled to participate in the second Library Day at the Fair at the PNE. Like the Fair, our public libraries are a favourite place for families to visit, and an essential summer activity in BC,” says Public Library InterLINK Executive Director Michael Burris. Once in the Fair, attendees can stop by the Library Zone, near Toon City and the Popnology Exhibit, for some fun and FREE activities with staff from BC libraries. “The Library Zone at the Fair is full of fun activities that families can expect when they visit their local library,” Burris remarks, “there will be something for every age.”

Don’t have a library card yet? Don’t worry! Visit any Richmond Public Library branch to sign up for FREE.

Public Library Day is brought to you by your local library, Public Library InterLINK, Tim Hortons, Raise a Reader and the Fair at the PNE. Presenting a BC library card grants one cardholder admission for $6 (one card must be shown per person to receive the discount) and ID is recommended. The Fair is free for children under the age of 13 from August 18th – September 3rd. For more information, speak to a library staff member or visit https://www.pne.ca/thefair/ways-to-save/.

Richmond, BC – Are you interested in learning about the influence the Daode Jing (also called Tao Te Ching or Laotze) had on Chinese culture and intellectual development? Come to a free seminar presented by Richmond Public Library on Tuesday July 31 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm in the Community Place Room at the Brighouse (Main) Branch, 7700 Minoru Gate. Registration is required. This seminar is presented in partnership with Simon Fraser University’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Simon Fraser University’s David See-Chai Lam Centre for International Communication.

The speaker is Associate Professor Paul Crowe, chair of the Department of Humanities at Simon Fraser University, former director of the SFU David See-Chai Lam Centre for International Communication and editor of the Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies and associated CJBS News Blog. His research interests cover classical textual work in the Ming dynasty (1398-1644), the Daoist Canon, modern spirit-writing altars in Hong Kong and Canada, and Chinese Buddhist organizations in BC. His areas of teaching include courses on Chinese philosophy and religion as well as on the multiculturalism policy in Canada.The Daode Jing is a fundamental work of the Taoist philosophy and religion, but it also has influence on other schools of Chinese philosophy, such as Confucianism and Legalism. Laozi, a sage from 6th –century BC, was considered to be the author of this philosophical classic. Although the text has only 5,000 Chinese characters, it has deeply influenced the evolution of cultural and intellectual development of East Asia and beyond.

For more information on this program, phone 604-231-6462, go to our online event calendar at rpl.yourlibrary.ca/events_calendar or visit any branch of Richmond Public Library.

Richmond, BC – Richmond Public Library is running another series of the popular Computer classes in Mandarin for Seniors on Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning July 31 through to August 16 from 10 am – 12 noon in the Launchpad Classroom at the Brighouse (Main) Branch, 7700 Minoru Gate. Participants must register for and attend all six sessions. Due to high demand, this program is for local residents only who have not attended this course before.

“This course, Basic Android Tablet Computers for Seniors, will cover the basics of using an Android tablet, smartphone and computer plus how to surf the Internet. Participants should bring their own Android devices to class as there will be opportunities to learn on individual devices,” said Wendy Jang, Coordinator of Chinese community services. “We are grateful to Mr. Jim Ng for volunteering his time to teach this course,” Jang added. Jim Ng is a full time instructor of computer courses at Douglas College.

To register or for more information, phone 604-231-6462, go to www.yourlibrary.ca/events/ or visit any branch of Richmond Public Library.

Richmond, BC – Are you an adult or senior looking to make a difference by volunteering in your community? Are you comfortable working with computers and mobile devices? If you answered “yes” to these questions, consider volunteering with Tech Buddies, where you’ll team up with library staff to offer one-on-one digital mentorship to seniors living in our community.

The goal of the Tech Buddies program is to provide seniors with one-on-one help on how to use common digital devices, including tablets, phones, cameras, eReaders, and laptops.

As a Tech Buddies volunteer, you will encourage and support seniors to learn how to use the latest technology and tools, making it easier for seniors to stay connected with their friends and families and to learn about local community resources. Past Tech Buddies volunteers have also said that they enjoyed making new friends and gaining new skills.

To apply, email volunteer@yourlibrary.ca. You don’t have to be a technical expert, but you must feel comfortable with technology tools such as tablets, Apple or Android devices, and eReaders. Applicants should be interested in sharing their knowledge with older members of the community and bring people skills like patience, empathy and positive reinforcement. Once volunteers are trained, this program will be offered on a weekly basis between the months of September to December at various seniors’ facilities in Richmond.

Richmond, BC – Steveston Community Centre will be adjusting their hours over the summer. To more closely match these hours, the library is also making adjustments.

From Tuesday July 3 through Sunday September 2, the Steveston branch will be open Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 8 PM. Weekend hours remain unchanged at 10 AM to 5 PM on both Saturday and Sunday.

Upcoming summer holiday closures.

All library branches will be closed on Sunday July 1. The branches will have reduced hours on Monday July 2 and Tuesday July 3. Please see our Holiday Hours schedule for more details.

All branches will be closed on Monday August 6 and Monday September 3.

The Steveston branch will resume its regular Monday to Friday operating hours of 10 AM to 9 PM on Tuesday September 4.

Richmond, BC – This year, your library is asking the community for feedback and ideas to help create our next strategic plan. You can help shape innovation, programs, collections and services at your library.

We have already connected with the community in a number of different ways, including in-branch surveys, email surveys, a public open house and community focus groups.

It’s time for one last community conversation. We want you to share your Big Ideas!

Visit Let’s Talk Richmond at https://www.letstalkrichmond.ca/ between June 25 and July 8 to complete the survey. It’s easy to sign up if you are not already a member.

Richmond, BC – Kids, teens and adults are all invited to celebrate reading with Richmond Public Library this summer! The annual summer reading programs start soon and there will be a wide variety of events and reading challenges to suit all ages and all interests. Best of all, all summer reading activities are fun and free to join and attend!

This year’s provincial theme for the Kids’ Summer Reading Club is “Motion Commotion”. Starting June 27, children can come in to any RPL branch to pick up a free reading booklet and start recording their reading to be eligible to earn weekly stickers and a medal at the end of the summer. Special programs and events are happening throughout the summer at all four library branches, too! Summer reading fun kicks off on Sunday July 8 with a magic show at the Brighouse Branch.

Teens! Starting June 27, you can join the RPL Teen Summer Reading Club and make reading and visiting the library a part of your summer plans. Post book reviews on our blog, enter the book cover design contest and do other fun things for a chance to win prizes. Don’t miss our first ever library Escape Room program, writing workshops led by authors, and a sign language program. Gain leadership and work skills by volunteering during the summer (be sure to apply early in June).

There are many enjoyable ways for adults to enjoy reading this summer at Richmond Public Library. Starting June 14, come in to any RPL branch and pick up your free bingo card, then pull up a chair and start reading your way through exciting reading challenges. Completed bingo cards have a chance for prizes, including a Samsung Mini tablet and passes to City of Richmond facilities. RPL is also offering four walking book clubs from June 30 to September 15 in beautiful Richmond parks. The Adult Summer Reading Challenge includes a special author reading and meet-and-greet event with acclaimed Canadian author, actor and playwright Carmen Aguirre on Thursday June 28.

Everyone is welcome to come to the Summer Reading finale event on Saturday September 8. More information about this event will come in the summer.

Starting June 4, full details about all our summer programs and events will be available at http://rpl.yourlibrary.ca/books_dvd/src plus you’ll find all the information you need to know about Summer Reading Club registration.

We look forward to inspiring the community to read, explore, discover and learn all summer long!

RICHMOND, B.C. – Richmond Public Library has partnered with Charity Brighouse and Avia Employment Services to host a Youth Week Job Fair. Youth Week is an annual province wide initiative and runs from May 1 – 7, 2018. Join us on Wednesday, May 2 from 3-5pm as the library hosts a Youth Job Fair that targets teens ages 14-18 years of age. The library has teamed up with multiple employers including White Spot, Bulk Barn, Starbucks, and Old Navy who are looking for teens to join their team. Teens who attend should be prepared for possible on-the-spot informal interviews with employers and must bring their resumes! The library has a history of partnering with Charity Brighouse, which is a youth-led organization that promotes volunteerism in the community and Avia Employment Services which helps jobseekers find employment to host this event. This year, Youth Week has been organized by youth, for youth! “For any teens looking for a job, this Job Fair makes finding a job easy! Employers from well-known companies are looking to hire – look out for Youth Week!" said Caris Tin, Chair of Charity Brighouse. The Job Fair takes place at the Brighouse (Main) Branch, 7700 Minoru Gate. No registration is required and interested participants are invited to drop in at any time throughout the event.For more information, please contact Summer Sheng at 604-231-6480.

Richmond, BC – Following the success of its first year, the library is pleased to announce it is once again offering the Young Entrepreneurs program this summer. This is a specialized free program for youth ages 15 – 25 that have a passion for business and are interested in learning the skills necessary to successfully launch and run their own business. Applications for this program are being accepted from May 1 to June 5, closing at 5 PM.

Successful Young Entrepreneurs applicants will attend a series of workshops by business professionals on how to create a business plan, marketing, budgeting and writing an elevator pitch. At the same time, participants will apply the skills they’ve learned to create their own business pitch, to be presented at a formal Dragon’s Den style event. The program concludes with a finale event with prizes, awards and certificates awarded to the top three participants. The library gratefully thanks Futurpreneur Canada, Trinity Western University Richmond, Richmond Chamber of Commerce, Launch Academy and Volition for contributing the prizes and for sponsoring this program.

"This program, more than anything else made me realize how much I want to start my own business, as well as giving me access to peers, and mentors with the same goal," said one of last year’s successful finalists in the Young Entrepreneurs program.

The program runs from July 10 to 31 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings at the Brighouse branch and there is no cost to apply or participate. To ensure that participants obtain maximum benefit from the program, program registration is limited to 15 youth. Interested applicants can apply at http://rpl.yourlibrary.ca/events_calendar/yep. Applications will be screened and successful participants must commit to attending the full program series. For more information, please contact Summer Sheng at 604-231-6480.

Richmond, BC – “Hatch a plan” to come and spend Spring Break at the library! There are over 20 “egg-citing” free programs to choose from, suitable for families, preschoolers, school-aged children and teens. The library is offering a number of programs in partnership with organizations like Parks Canada, Engineers & Geoscientists BC, STEM ACES and the Northwest Wildlife Preservation Society, as well as local publishers Raincoast Books and Free Spirit Books.

“Our outreach programming aims to show students how a career in engineering or geoscience can open up a world of possibilities,” says Megan Archibald, Director, Communications and Stakeholder Engagement at Engineers & Geoscientists BC. “We want to show kids that these careers make a difference.”

Spring Break programs include an emphasis on pre-teen and teen programming, with a public speaking workshop series especially for teens from March 19 – 21, and a writing workshop offered by local teen author Lianne Oelke on March 21.

Parents and their children will enjoy unique reading challenges at each branch with a chance to win fun prizes, a visit from local children’s author Amy Takeda on March 19 and other activities that promote literacy skill. There will also be several programs that focus on STEM learning.

As always, there will be plenty of spaces available for people to escape the bustle of the school break and find their own books, hang out with friends or learn something new.

For a full listing of all program information, including recommended ages, branch locations and program times, please check out our program guide at http://rpl.yourlibrary.ca/sites/default/files/pdf/SpringBreakProgramGuide_FINAL.pdf. Some activities are drop-in but many are registered and are first-come, first-serve. Registration is now open. Programs may reach capacity so register now!

RICHMOND, B.C. – Freedom to Read Week is an annual event that will be celebrated across Canadian libraries from February 25 – March 3, 2018 in support of intellectual freedom for all individuals. By acknowledging this event each year, Richmond Public Library continues to shine a spotlight on the importance of freedom of information and the rights of individuals to choose what they want to read, view and listen to. The library is committed to raising public awareness of the issues surrounding censorship and how it affects people of all ages and backgrounds.

Mayor Malcolm Brodie has issued an official proclamation endorsing Freedom to Read Week. The library will mark this important event with displays of banned and challenged books at each of the branches. As always, the library provides community members with free access to a wide range of materials in a variety of formats, and librarians are always available to offer advice on age-appropriate books and other resources.

“Even in Canada, our freedom to read can never be taken for granted,” says Susan Koch, Library Board Chair. “Freedom to Read Week is an opportunity for Richmond Public Library and the City of Richmond to jointly acknowledge and raise public awareness about the impacts that censorship can have.”

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

RICHMOND, B.C. – Richmond Public Library, in partnership with the Family Christian Fellowship Church, is offering free Income Tax Clinics to help community members with low income file their income tax returns. The clinics run on Saturdays and take place on March 3 between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., March 10, 17, 24 and April 7, 14, 21, and 28 between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. in the Community Place at the Brighouse (Main) Branch located at 7700 Minoru Gate.

To qualify for this free service, single persons must have a maximum income of $30,000 and a couple must have a maximum income of $40,000 plus $2,500 per child. Sessions are 45 minutes per person and couples must sign up for one time slot each.

Trained volunteers will help people with low income to fill in their income tax returns free of charge. Registered participants should remember to bring all relevant documents such as T4, T5 and Canada Child Benefit slips. All print documents are returned to the taxpayer at the end of their session.

“We are thankful and blessed that the Income Tax Clinic for the past seven years has been extending a helping hand in preparing and filling income taxes for students, seniors, new immigrants and people with modest income in our community,” said Pastor Abe Lagayan, representative of the Family Christian Fellowship Church.

To register, call 604-231-6413 or visit the Brighouse Branch 2nd floor Ask Me desk.

Richmond, BC – At their most recent meeting, the Richmond Public Library Board re-elected Susan Koch as Board Chair and Robin Leung as Vice-Chair. Returning Board members include: Traci Corr, Diane Cousar, Chaslynn Gillanders, Jordan Oye and Arseniy Shchedrinskiy. City Councillor Linda McPhail will serve as the new City Council representative to the Richmond Public Library Board and Councillor Alexa Loo will continue to serve as the City Council Alternate representative. The Board thanks Councillor Chak Au, outgoing Council representative, for his support. New to the Board is Caty Liu, recently appointed by Richmond City Council for a two year term.

McPhail is currently serving her second term on City Council and prior to that role, served as a school trustee with the Richmond Board of Education from 2002 – 2011. She has a long history of volunteering in the Richmond community.

Liu is a financial analyst and is working on completing the Chartered Professional Accountant program. Her background is in budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis and business operations.

Library Board Chair Susan Koch says that the library is on track towards the successful completion of a five year Strategic and Long Range Plan. "This year we want to build on previous successes and create new and exciting learning opportunities for community members of all ages. By offering innovative programming combined with a focus on expanding our traditional and digital collections, we want the public to know that there is something for everyone at the library,” said Koch.

“We are very grateful for the support of City Council, our community, and our dedicated Friends of the Library. As well, we are always looking for local partners who share our values and want to engage with us to create unique learning experiences for the community.” added Koch. ”Please contact us if you are interested in becoming a library partner or volunteering your time with the library.”

Richmond, BC – Richmond Public Library is ready to ring in the Year of the Dog and would like to invite the community to come and celebrate. Whether you regularly celebrate Chinese New Year with your family or are interested in learning more about Chinese culture, there is a wide variety of literacy-based programs and events happening at the library to suit all ages and interests.

• Friday Feb. 2, 7 – 9 PM A Celebration of Spring at Lulu IslandEnjoy an evening of poetry recitations, music and dancing. • Friday Feb. 16 to Friday March 2 Lantern Riddles Contest Adults and children can try to correctly guess at least five riddles for a chance to enter the raffle draw to win prizes.• Tuesday Feb. 20 (in Cantonese), Thursday Feb. 22 (in English) & Wednesday Feb. 28 (in Mandarin), 10:30 – 12:30 PM Yijing Predictions for the Year of the DogLearn about Yijing predictions by analysing the Chinese almanac and flying stars. • Saturday February 24, 1:30 – 4 PM Celebrate the Year of the DogCome and celebrate at this family-friendly event with hands-on activities, Chinese painting, crafts and games. • Tuesday February 27, 10 – 12 PM A Fun Talk on Lantern RiddlesLearn about lantern riddles, including their history, categories, rules and techniques for composing and guessing riddles. • Friday March 2, 10 – 12 PM Fun with Lantern Riddles Members of the Chinese Couplets Study Club will compose riddles for the public to try and guess.

All events take place at the Brighouse branch.

For more details about these and other programs, please check out our online event calendar at www.yourlibrary.ca/events, or call the library at 604-231-6412.

RICHMOND, B.C. – Richmond Public Library is partnering with Richmond Addiction Services Society (RASS) and the Overdose Prevention and Education Network (OPEN) to host a free community event on Saturday February 3rd from 10 AM to 2 PM. At this event, the public and members of local organizations will work together to create a response and prevention plan that addresses the current overdose crisis in Richmond. As an outcome of this event, RASS will put forward an action plan to all levels of Government including the City and other funders on behalf of the community.

RASS and OPEN will focus this discussion on the current overdose crisis, not just on opioids. The event organizers will facilitate a community conversation along with members from a number of local community organizations including BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS), the City of Richmond, RCMP, the Salvation Army, Pathways Clubhouse, Touchstone Family Association, Turning Point Recovery Society, Vancouver Coastal Health and Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU).

“The more we connect and engage our community, the more we help to increase attention and uncover what needs to happen in order to prevent substance use from becoming problematic for individuals, families and communities,” says Rick Dubras, Executive Director of RASS. “At the event and after, we hope for meaningful dialogue and discourse about our current situation.”

This event takes place in the Launchpad at the Brighouse branch. This program is free to attend however registration is required via the Eventbrite link https://communityactivationevent.eventbrite.com/. Lunch will be provided to registered participants. Parents with children are welcome to attend as free child-minding will be available by request. Interested parents should register and email info@richmondaddictions.ca to request the child-minding service.

RICHMOND, B.C. – Richmond Public Library is partnering with the City of Richmond, Richmond Arts Centre, Chimo Community Services and community advocate Mary Wilson to present a series of programs in celebration of Black History Month. This is the third year the library has offered programs to recognize Black History Month and this year’s theme is “Honouring our local heroes”.

The opening ceremonies will be held at the Richmond City Hall Council Chambers on Friday, February 2nd from 4:30 – 6:15 PM. Doors open at 4 PM and the formal ceremony starts at 4:30 PM. All month long, visitors to the Richmond Arts and Cultural Centre will enjoy an art exhibit located on the second floor of the rotunda.

Richmond Public Library is pleased to offer a diverse variety of Black History Month programs at the Brighouse branch on select dates in February:

• On Saturday February 10 from 10:30 – 12 PM, listen as speaker Carmen Lake discusses “Afro-Canadians and their Contributions to the Canadian War Efforts”.• On Saturday February 10 from 2 – 4 PM, enjoy a performance by youth called “Story-Powering our Youth thru Dance and Storytelling”.• On Saturday February 17 from 11 – 1 PM, enjoy a display of historical photographs entitled “Hogan’s Alley”. This program is drop-in.• On Saturday February 17 from, 2 – 3:30 PM, learn about African inventors and 3D printing at “Inspired Inventions”. • On Sunday February 18 from 2 – 3 PM, listen as well-known vocalist Dawn Pemberton shares stories of her childhood experiences in a program called “To be Seen and Unseen: the Duality of Growing up Black in Vancouver”.

All programs are free and everyone is welcome to attend. Registration is required for all programs except for “Hogan’s Alley”. For more information or to register, please visit http://rpl.yourlibrary.ca/events_calendar or speak to a library staff member.

“Black Canadians have made significant contributions to Canada. These programs will provide an opportunity for the public to gain a better understanding of the experiences of Black Canadians and will honour the legacy of the Black community,” says Wendy Jang, Coordinator of Multicultural and Chinese Community Services.

Richmond, BC – In recognition of National Family Literacy Week, which takes place from January 21 – 27 and concludes with Family Literacy Day on January 27, Richmond Public Library will offer a number of unique, fun activities that will give families the tools they need to build literacy skills at home.

Family Literacy Day is a Canada-wide initiative to raise awareness of the importance of reading and engaging in literacy-related activities as a family. Canadian literacy rates have dropped from above average to average compared to other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries over the last 10 years. In addition, Canadian youth are ranked below average compared to OECD countries.

The library’s role in celebrating National Family Literacy Week is to show families that the path to literacy begins at home with simple activities that parents and their children can do together to improve literacy and develop the love of reading in children.

During National Family Literacy week, regular library programs such as Reading Buddies and Storytimes will be enhanced to include special games and activities aimed at showing parents and families how to grow literacy skills at home. There will also be special programs on digital literacy which introduce computer coding and digital tools including robots and Makey Makey’s ®, as well as parent sessions on promoting healthy gaming habits. Visitors to Kids’ Place at the Brighouse branch can also browse our feature wall of literacy tips and activities for parents.

For more details on these and other programs, please check out our online event calendar at www.yourlibrary.ca/events, or call the library at 604-231-6412.