It’s now just a matter of an Order in Council of the provincial government before Bowen’s community library officially becomes the Bowen Island Municipal Library.

Council has passed a bylaw endorsing the proposed status change. But first, the Ministry of Education will need to legally dissolve the Public Library Association before the new entity is borne. The Municipality expects that will happen before the end of the year.

Tina Nielsen, the chief librarian, commented on the impending changeover. “I am very happy to be realizing a dream begun by our former Board Chair Ross Carter. Bowen Island Library has expanded physically and in service capacity over 20 years and the move to municipal library status was the next logical step to continue our growth. We are all looking forward to working collaboratively and more closely with the municipality to ensure the development and success of our community library."

The Bowen Island Library Board will continue its work managing, promoting and supporting the local institution. Assets and liabilities of the library will fall under the jurisdiction of BIM, however the direction and control of its operations will remain with the Board and continue to be largely governed by the Library Act. Council’s control and influence over the library rests in its duty to appoint the board and approval of funding through the annual budgeting process.

According to a report to council from Joanne Cunday, BIM’s director of Finance and Nielsen, the major benefit of the library becoming a Municipal Service is that there will be more direct participation and opportunities for collaboration with Council in planning and designing the future of library services on the Island.

In 2008, BIM granted $154,000 to the Bowen Island Public Library Association. The busy literary hotspot is located in the Old General Store building and boasts a circulation of more than 47,000 books and other materials.  It is open five days a week and library membership is free to Bowen Island residents or taxpayers, and to anyone living in the Lower Mainland. One full-time and two part-time employees and approximately 40 volunteers staff the library and deliver a number of programs and services.