History of Burnaby Public Library

1927

The North Burnaby Library Association is formed. Members pay $1 to use a collection of 397 books.

1935

A small store at 4147 East Hastings Street becomes the first actual library building.

1954

Burnaby Public Library is established by a municipal bylaw.

1956

Burnaby Public Library opens in south Burnaby on September 24, with a collection of 13,139 volumes to serve 83,745 Burnaby residents. The Bookmobile service begins, with 31 stops per week through the entire municipality.

1957

The North Burnaby Library Association merges with Burnaby Public Library.

1961

The collection grows to 100,000 books for the citizens of Burnaby, whose population also grows to 100,000. The McGill Branch opens in North Burnaby, its name honouring a dedicated library volunteer, Grace McGill who had worked with the North Burnaby Library association since 1927.

1971

The Bookmobile service ends and Home Library Service begins.

1962-1980

The Kingsway, Central Park, and Cameron branches open.

1991

The Bob Prittie Metrotown Branch opens, its name honouring former Burnaby teacher, MP, alderman, mayor and library board member Robert "Bob" Prittie.

1994

Burnaby Public Library joins in the formation of InterLINK, which currently provides barrier-free library service to residents of Greater Vancouver, Bowen Island, the Fraser Valley, Squamish and Whistler.

1998

BPL serves a local population of 187,900 people with a collection of 624,100 items and has the highest circulation per capita of any large urban public library in Canada.

2001

Construction of the new 27,000-square-foot McGill branch is completed.

2006

Fifty-year celebration. Patron memories and stories are collected in Reflections: Memories From Our First 50 Years [PDF].

2009

The Kingsway branches closes and is replaced by the new Tommy Douglas Library at 7311 Kingsway.