About the Library

Curbside Pick-up Procedure at the Prince Rupert Library

As of Monday, June 1^st 2020, the Library will be offering Curbside Pick-Up Services, while continuing to deliver to those that need home delivery.

As of June 1^st 2020, we will also be re-opening our blue Book Bin, and ask that patrons start returning all of those materials they’ve been kindly keeping at home. The book bin will be open during the day, as well as during the evenings, so please return all of your library materials to the book bin, regardless of the time of day.

Here’s how you can participate in our Curbside Pick-up Program:

Current Job Openings – 2025

Indigenous Storyteller in Residence – Fall 2025 (Temporary Position)

The Prince Rupert Library is launching its first Indigenous Storyteller in Residence program, running full-time from September 1 to December 12, 2025.

This is a self-employed contract position. Compensation ranges from $10,000 to $15,000 for 14 weeks at 35 hours per week.

This residency supports a local Indigenous storyteller in delivering community programming while also pursuing their own creative project. The position is open to Indigenous artists, writers, and performers connected to Lax Kxeen, Prince Rupert, or surrounding areas.

📄 View the full job posting (PDF)

Apply for Fines Forgiveness

You may make a request for forgiveness of fine by applying to the Chief Librarian and explaining your circumstances. Please include:

• Full name
• Contact information (e-mail and/or phone)
• Library card number
• A brief explanation of your circumstances

This information can be submitted:

• Using a paper form, at the front desk when we are open.
• By e-mail to: deplib@citywest.ca

Present: Nick Adey (NA), Carolina de Ryk (CdR), Chelsea Keays (CK), Stephanie Lysyk (SL), Dale White (DW), Andrea Wilmot (AW), Joe Zelwietro (JZ - Chief Librarian)

Regrets: Glenn Groulx (GG)

Meeting commenced at 7:05 pm.

• Consent agenda amended, moving the '2020 Funding letter' moved into Discussion agenda. Moved by AW, seconded by CK, passed.
• Discussion about Library's relationship with City. The library should not be included in the Community Enhancement grant process due to the Library Act.
• Discussion about proposed 2020 Library Board regular meetings. JZ will revise the schedule re: November Remembrance Day; the November meeting will be held on November 18, 2020
• Discussion about possibility of all children's material becoming fines-free sometime in 2020. What would the repercussions be to library's revenue? JZ will investigate and report back Library Board.
• Discussion about the 2020 Fall NWLF Staff/Board meeting in Prince Rupert during September or October. One time frame not to use is: Sept. 21-25, as this is the UBCM meeting and some Board members will not be available across the Federation.
• Other tasks for JZ:
  • Send request to City to put Advertisement in newspaper for a Library trustee.
  • Complete first draft of Strategic Planning Committee from Committee rough notes.

Meeting Adjourned at 8:10 pm.
Next Board Meeting at 7pm February 12, 2020 at the Library
Next Strategic Planning Committee meeting at 7pm January 23, 2020 at the Library

Present: Cary Dalton (CD), Carolina de Ryk (CdR), Chelsea Keays (CK), Stephanie Lysyk (SL), Dale White (DW), Andrea Wilmot (AW), Joe Zelwietro (JZ-Chief Librarian)

Regrets: Glenn Groulx (GG)

Meeting commenced at 7:09 pm.

• Consent agenda accepted with October financial report moved to Discussion agenda, motion by AW, seconded by CD, passed.
• Discussion about financial report and projection of very slight deficit for 2019 (≤1%)
• Discussion about Turning the Pages, how the project was progressing, emphasis on the fact that the Library is not the owner of the newspaper items, but was a permission holder of the items for non-commercial use by patrons.
• Discussion about Policy re: rental of Multipurpose room. The library is an welcoming, inclusive place which means that patrons renting our room can not discriminate against others on any of the grounds listed in the BC Human Rights code. After the meeting JZ found that there is already such a statement in the Policy manual and will bring it to the attention of trustees during the next meeting. We will be discussing how such a requirement could impact on commercial groups that rent the room for private purposes in a future meeting.
• Discussion about the recent change to the City of Prince Rupert's Travel and Per Diem claim form and whether the Library should adopt it as well. It does make travel more expensive for the Library to afford, but it more fairly compensates those travelling for Library purposes. After discussion, a motion was made by AW and seconded by CD that 'The Library match the City's new rate commencing with the new year (Jan 1, 2020)'. Passed.

Present: Cary Dalton (CD), Glenn Groulx (GG), Chelsea Keays (CK), Stephanie Lysyk (SL), Dale White (DW)

Regrets: Nick Adey (NA), Carolina de Ryk (CdR), Andrea Wilmot (AW)

Meeting commenced at 7:05 pm.

• Motion by CD, seconded by DW to accept consent agenda. Passed.
• Item to add to Discussion agenda Board liability insurance
• Discussion about possible projects for Grant Advance funding, the two Board priorities are: TTP and new paperback racks. These will be our first focus for Grant Advance. Also there could be local residents who would be willing to make donations or bequeath gifts to the library. No action on this last point, but consider it for now.
• Motion by CD to open Saturdays and Sundays of Long weekends (as per schedule) in 2020. SL
  seconded. Passed.
• Discussion about CD's experience at the recent NWLF Board mtg. An idea came out of the matter for CD: A trustee exchange for Board meetings (ie. our trustees go to Board mtgs in other NW libraries and we would host other NW library trustees at our Board mtgs.)
• Board Liability discussion: CK gave some background about whether the Library Board requires liability insurance. She spoke with a representative of the BCLTA and found out that there has been other conversations between the BCLTA and other library directors/trustees but no actions known to the representative to have been taken by BC libraries in this regard. CK will forward the email she received from the BCLTA representative to all of our trustees. SL added that we should flag the liability insurance possibility in the MoU.
• Item for the agenda for the Nov Board mtg.: SL to provide the Board a tentative MoU (Memorandum of Understanding).
• Mtg adjourned 8:40pm.

Present: Nick Adey (NA), Carolina de Ryk (CdR), Glen Groulx (GG), Chelsea Keays (CK), Andrea Wilmot (AW)

Regrets: Cary Dalton (CL), Stephanie Lysyk (SL), Dale White (DW)

Meeting commenced at 7:05 pm.

• Item (possible partnership with another organization) added to Discussion agenda by AW. Motion to adopt amended agenda by NA, seconded by CdR, passed.
• Consent agenda items accepted
• Discussion Agenda items:
  • 2020 Budget discussion, Motion to accept option 2020-2 by AW, seconded by CK, passed.
  • JZ to write a letter requesting library interior leak repair for NA to discuss the matter with City manager
  • CK will write BCLTA to ask about Library trustee insurance and discuss the legal issues with trustee SL.
  • JZ to communicate with CD about details about October NWLF strategic planning meeting.
  • AW spoke on possible relationship with local Ecotrust project manager. The manager will contact JZ.

• Motion to adjourn by AW at 8:40 pm.

Meeting Adjourned at 8:40 pm. Next Meeting at 7pm (Oct. 09, 2019).

Present: Nick Adey (NA), Cary Dalton (CD), Carolina de Ryk (CdR), Chelsea Keays (CK), Stephanie Lysyk (SL), Andrea Wilmot (AW), Joe Zelwietro (JZ, Library Director)

Regrets: Glenn Groulx (GG), Brent Patriquin (BP), Dale White (DW)

Meeting commenced at 7:01 pm.

• Request to add a matter to the agenda (a report on increased open hours on Mondays).
• Motion to accept agenda with above amendment by SL, seconded by CD, passed.
• Motion to accept Minutes of both April regular Library Board meeting and the Library 2018 Annual General meeting by NA, seconded by CD, passed.
• Discussion about monthly financial and statistical reports. Motion to accept reports by AW, seconded by NA, passed. JZ will ask City Hall finance staff about financial report content change.
• Discussion about tentative second survey to non-library users and suggested changes. JZ will make suggested revisions and report back to Board.
• Discussion about meeting with City Council on July 22. JZ and CD will go to Council Chambers and talk about what we’re doing.

Meeting Adjourned at 9:00 pm. Next Board Meeting at 7pm (Sept. 4, 2019). Next Strategic Planning Committee is 7pm July 4, 2019 and the Library presentation is July 22, 2019 at 7pm in City Council Chambers.

Present: Nick Adey (NA), Cary Dalton (CD), Glenn Groulx (GG), Chelsea Keays (CK), Stephanie Lysyk (SL), Brent Patriquin (BP), Dale White (DW), Andrea Wilmot (AW), Joe Zelwietro (JZ - Library Director)

Regrets:

Meeting commenced at 7:02 pm.

• Motion to accept the agenda by NA, seconded, CK; passed
• GG gave the chairperson’s report
• JZ gave the Library Director’s report
• Discussion about the Library’s 2018 Statement of Financial Information (SOFI). Motion to accept the SOFI by AW, seconded by BP; passed
• Library Board elections,
  • new chairperson is Chelsea Keays
  • new vice-chairperson is Andrea Wilmot
  • new PRL trustee on the NWLF board is Cary Dalton

Meeting Adjourned at 8:10 pm.

Present: Nick Adey (NA), Cary Dalton (CD), Glenn Groulx (GG), Chelsea Keays (CK), Stephanie Lysyk (SL), Brent Patriquin (BP), Dale White (DW), Andrea Wilmot (AW), Joe Zelwietro (JZ - Library Director)

Regrets:

Meeting commenced at 8:11 pm.

• Motion to accept Agenda, with two additional matters (“Rules” and “Nature of AGM”) by NA, seconded by GG; passed.
• Motion to accept March 2019 Library Board Minutes by NA, seconded by CD; passed.
• Discussion about March’s financial report

The Prince Rupert Library (PRL) is committed to the process of reconciliation with the First Nations people of this area and local urban Indigenous communities. In the spirit of reconciliation, we respect unity and collaboration in our coexistence upon the unceded territory of the Ts'msyen Nation. We welcome all to PRL.

PRL has responded to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. We have instituted these initiatives (with links to additional resources).

Pathfinder: Residential Schools (ongoing)
An informational sheet is available to the public. It lists some of the resources (Adult Non-Fiction, Juvenile Books, Videos, etc.) that are specific to the topic of Residential Schools and reconciliation. Visit our online catalogue for items on Residential Schools

Talking Circle 2017: Sharing, healing, reconciling, moving forward, together.
This was a group meeting, open to all, anyone who'd come forward in effort to speak of reconciliation, how we can play a role in bringing it about in our workplaces, home, community, etc. The initiative was to get the dialogue of reconciliation started, discuss collaborative ways to bring it to light, and lifelong learning for all.

Indigenous Book Club Month 2018: Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese
This book was chosen by one of our Library Assistants, in honour of the late Richard Wagamese. In the spirit of healing, this particular book brings about the much needed discussion in its most simplest form...truth. The truth of who Saul was, who he came to be within his healing process, and how he moved forward in an unfortunately difficult lifetime. This selection too, is an effort to keep the dialogue going on reconciliation and how we can continue to embed it within our family, home, and community. Seven people signed up and read the book, but only three were able to physically attend this event (with one email submission for discussion). We would have appreciated more participation; however, the four discussed what reconciliation-in-action has already taken place in their places of work, home, and community. There is hope...reconciliation continues.

The Friends of the Library Book Club (for June 2019)
This is an ongoing book club held at PRL throughout the year and one of our Library Assistants volunteers her time in doing so. This year, in the spirit of reconciliation and in honour of National Indigenous History Month, one of our other Library Assistants has requested that an Indigenous author/book be selected for the month of June, and that this Book Club meeting be advertised to the public at large. This Book Club Meeting was held on Tuesday, June 25th @ 7 p.m. - Multipurpose Room.

There were 8 people in attendance with 2 e-mail submissions for the meeting. The list of books discussed at the Read Indigenous Book Club Meeting were:

• The Break by Katherena Vermette
• The Reason You Walk by Wab Kinew (2 people read this)
• The Ringing Cedars series by Vladimir Megre
• Peace Pipe Dreams: the truth about lies about Indians by Darell Dennis
• All Our Relations: Finding the Path Forward by Tanya Talaga
• Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese
• Dances With Dependency: Indigenous Success Through Self-Reliance by Calvin Helin
• Moccasin Square Gardens by Richard Van Camp
• Starlight by Richard Wagamese

Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The National Inquiry’s Final Report reveals that persistent and deliberate human and Indigenous rights violations and abuses are the root cause behind Canada’s staggering rates of violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people. The two volume report calls for transformative legal and social changes to resolve the crisis that has devastated Indigenous communities across the country.

Ongoing: We continue to add materials to our collection to foster understanding and reconciliation. We have a large collection of self-help materials to assist people on the journey of healing, and related topics on residential schools.

• Northwest History Collection room: this is a secure room with books on local First Nations and Northwest British Columbia.
• We welcome suggestions about materials to purchase.
• Encourage community partnership in hosting an event at the library.