Salt Spring Island Public Library Association

The Salt Spring Island Public Library Association is a Canadian nonprofit organization that operates the public library on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia. Incorporated in 1960, the Association manages the Salt Spring Island Public Library, providing a wide range of informational, educational, and cultural resources to the local community.

Mission and Values

The Association’s mission is to build opportunities for everyone to learn, connect, and explore. It prioritizes values such as innovation, equity, diversity and inclusion, social justice, discovery, sustainability, and community leadership.

Services and Community Role

The library maintains a comprehensive collection of information resources in various formats. It functions as a community-based and service-oriented hub in the heart of Ganges village on Salt Spring Island. The Association operates with the support of over 100 volunteers and a small team of paid staff.

The library participates in province-wide initiatives, including the BC OneCard system, downloadable eBooks and audiobooks, interlibrary loan services, and subscription database access. It collaborates with several local organizations, such as Salt Spring Literacy, the Salt Spring Historical Society and Archives, Transitions Salt Spring, and local schools, offering many meaningful programs that enrich the cultural, social, and intellectual life of Salt Spring Islanders.

Governance and Funding

The Salt Spring Island Public Library Association is governed by its own constitution and board of directors, independent of the Capital Regional District (CRD), although there is liaison through the Electoral Area Director for Salt Spring Island who sits on its board. The library building itself is owned by the CRD.

Funding sources for the Association include a CRD tax levy on Salt Spring Island, provincial per capita grants, targeted grants, donations, investment income, book sales, and fines. This diverse funding supports the library’s operations and community programming.

History

Since its incorporation in 1960, the library has grown significantly. By 1963, the collection had expanded to over 5,000 books with an annual circulation reaching 7,000 items. Over the decades, the library has evolved into a vital cultural institution on Salt Spring Island.

Charitable Status

The Salt Spring Island Public Library Association is a registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), complying with all regulatory requirements associated with its charitable designation. Donations support its mission to provide free and open access to information and community resources.

This organization plays a central role in fostering literacy, learning, and community connection on Salt Spring Island through its library services and partnerships.