Page 2

The Board of Management is justifiably proud of
the achievements of the regional library which in 1930
was the first of its kind in North America, Through
the help and co-operation of the 17 Valley municipal-
ities the. library has been able to provide good service
to a wide spectrum of Valley citizens at the least
possible cost. Its operations have been copied the

world over.

It may come as a surprise to some that the Fraser
Valley Regional Library - that network of branches from
Richmond to Hope linked by a headquarters in Abbotsford
with toll-free telephones and two bookmobiles and a
delivery van - is the second largest public library in
British Columbia in terms of population served, book-
stock, circulation and staff size. Second to the
Vancouver Public Library.

Acknowledging the needs of the library system for
a larger and more efficient headquarters the Board of
Management feels that it must proceed at this time with
the building project. After all these years it can
hardly do less. Financing has not been settled yet
but the Board is confident that it can raise about half
of the funds needed. The remainder might be financed
-by .the 17 municipalities in ratio of their respective
assessments in the same manner as operational library
costs are shared each year.

The Fraser Valley Regional Library, unlike its
branch libraries which are built and financed by their
respective municipalities, does not have a "parent
municipality" to provide it with a new building. It
must rely on the co-operation, generosity and wisdom of
all the municipalities benefitting from its service.
The advantage to each one of course is that the cost is
relatively small. .

The Board of Management would ask Council to give
this matter sympathetic consideration. When further
details of financing are known, the Board will so advise.

Sincerely,

Wee

W. H. Overend,
Director.

WHO:di
c.c. FVRL Board Chairman