F14: Prototype Libraries: Designed for the Rural Library Landscape
Session Description
In many rural communities, the library is the living room, the gathering space, and the social hub — the vital artery that keeps these communities pulsing.
For Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL), many of our branches are in rural and remote towns – communities that have seen mill closures, falling populations, and a myriad of other challenges. Losing the library would be devastating to these communities.
VIRL is committed to rural communities and to ensuring they get the best possible library experience. As part of this commitment, we are developing a prototype facility model that can be economically scaled and tailored to each community’s size and unique needs.
As we plan for the future, we want our rural communities to thrive. In order to do so, we feel they need library facilities with access to electronic resources and collections, and that provide space for quiet contemplation, meetings, research, discovery and everything else that makes libraries relevant and required in communities across Canada, from our largest cities to our tiniest towns.
Come to hear Rosemary Bonanno and Cameron Barnes discuss the process they undertook to develop the prototype model they hope to implement across the VIRL service area, including the robust public consultations in numerous towns, and the overwhelmingly positive responses from community members.
VIRL is striving to ensure that the work we do today will help lead to lively, vibrant rural communities of tomorrow.
Speakers
Rosemary Bonanno, Vancouver Island Regional Library
Biography
Rosemary Bonanno is the Executive Director of Vancouver Island Regional Library. Over the past decade, Rosemary has strategically positioned VIRL for growth and success. Under her leadership, a Facilities Master Plan was introduced, which has transformed the library’s physical presence up and down Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii and the Central Coast. Since 2011, 13 of VIRL’s branches have been replaced or refurbished, winning numerous building awards. Through innovative building projects and service, Rosemary ensures that VIRL’s 39 branch library system delivers industry-leading library services across a geographically vast and diverse area, including urban centres and rural and remote communities.
Cameron Barnes, Kingsview Construction
Biography
Cameron Barnes is a graduate of BCIT’s Civil and Structural Engineering program. In 2012, Mr. Barnes was the Project Manager for the construction of Vancouver Island Regional Library’s 30,000 sq. ft. Nanaimo North branch.
In 2017, he founded Kingsview Construction and has worked extensively on a range of projects on Vancouver Island.
Recently, Mr. Barnes has worked with VIRL as a Capital Project Consultant on numerous new branches. He understands VIRL’s operational needs and works with other consultants and contractors to ensure those needs are met while maintaining budget, schedule, and high-quality construction.