Programming Strategy
The purpose of Richmond Public Library’s (RPL) Programming Strategy is to uphold RPL’s Vision, Mission and Values and to provide guidance to library staff for decision-making related to library programs. It also serves to inform Richmond residents of the programming principles that inform selection criteria.
RPL is committed to providing inclusive and welcoming spaces with a focus on lifelong learning for all ages and stages of literacy development. The role of the public library is to provide access to physical resources, educational tools and engagement opportunities that develop the interests and skills and individuals and communities alike. With collaborative partnerships, in-house and virtual programming opportunities, along with outreach, the library is regarded as a hub for exploration, innovation, and creativity.
Program Development
The library offers a wide range of relevant and meaningful public programs; all designed to fulfill one or more of the following functions:
- Emphasize the sharing of information and ideas
- Actively promote literacy and the benefits of reading through use of the library’s print and digital collections
- Support awareness and use of the computing and digital creation stations
- Highlight the library as a research and resource hub
- Meets the needs and interests of the community with the hopes of providing entertaining and educational experiences
- Be offered without charge to attendees except in exceptional circumstances where admission may be charged to recover the library’s costs of presenting the program
Guiding Principles
- RPL adheres to the Canadian Federation of Library Associations Statement on Intellectual Freedom and Libraries and supports and promotes the universal principles of intellectual freedom as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Richmond Public Library abides by these principles and considers freedom of access to information as a fundamental quality of a democratic society that is crucial for personal intellectual development and the overall health of the community. - The Library respects a diversity of ideas and opinions. The library makes available a wide range of programs representing different points of view. Inclusion of programs and the content in the library does not imply endorsement of their contents by the library. Program speakers will agree not to contravene the Criminal Code of Canada and the British Columbia Human Rights Code.
- RPL is committed to supporting learning and action for Truth and Reconciliation by providing strong Indigenous programming by Indigenous voices and by working with Indigenous community to build the programs and events.
- The library strives to provide accessible programming and services to facilitate equity of access to persons with disabilities.
- Library programs are enriched through strategic partnerships. The library may partner with not-for-profit or for-profit organizations for programming content. Programs are not used for solicitation, recruitment or any activity that contravenes local, provincial or federal laws. The library is not able to accept all program proposals submitted by community stakeholders and will consider strategic relevance and operational capacity when responding to partner program requests.
- The library will engage in outreach activities to offer programs and services to increase awareness of the library in the community. The library will consider strategic relevance and operational capacity when responding to outreach requests.
Forms of Literacy
Access to literacy programming, in its various forms, provides individuals and groups with richer reading and comprehension skills, life-skills, empowerment and confidence which in turn leads to an active and thriving community. Literacy-based programming is a core service provided by the library.
Forms of literacy include:
| Information literacy | The ability to locate, recognize, and analyze information. |
| Cultural literacy | The ability to understand and appreciate the value of diversity and inclusion. |
| Physical literacy | The ability to develop the skills, confidence, and love of movement to be physically active for life. |
| Early literacy | The ability to foster an appreciation of learning and reading in children from an early age and empower literacy engagement through reading, singing, playing, talking and rhyming for children and to encourage parents of small children to be an active participant in their young child’s learning. |
| Youth literacy | The ability to engage with words and language with confidence and to explore interests and creativity and harness inquisitiveness. |
| Family literacy | The ability to interact with learning intergenerationally and to provide support for parents and caregivers to improve literacy skills within the family unit and become advocates for their children’s literacy journey. |
| Adult literacy | The ability to access knowledge in a variety of life-improving areas such as health and wellbeing through continuous life-long learning. |
| Digital literacy | The ability to locate, recognize, and analyze information on digital platforms, produce text and use technology confidently. |
| STEAM literacy | The ability to actively engage in sciences, technology, engineering, arts, and math in a meaningful way. |
Program Evaluation
Programs are regularly evaluated to determine community response and program effectiveness. Data is gathered so as to: create the best possible programs, ensure continuous improvement, monitor progress toward program goals, and judge the success of the program in achieving its short-term, intermediate, and long-term outcomes.
Program Request and Reconsideration
Individuals and community groups are invited to submit program proposals through the Community Program Partnerships Proposal form found on the library’s website.
Community members may submit a written Request for Program Reconsideration form for specific programs. A Request for Program Reconsideration form must be completed for each program. A formal staff review is initiated and a written decision will be sent to the person or organization making the request.
Program-Related Library Policies and Resources
- Programming Policy
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement
- Privacy Statement
- Programming Strategy
- Request for Community Partner Programs
- Request for Community Table
- Request for Program Reconsideration
- BC Human Rights Code
- Canadian Criminal Code
- Canadian Federation of Library Associations Statement on Intellectual Freedom and Libraries
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action
- United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights