WHO is bclta?

The BCLTA, which was founded in 1977, represents the boards and trustees that govern local public libraries in British Columbia.  We represent over 65 library boards and more than 650 library trustees who volunteer their time on library boards throughout the province.  Our mission is “To support and represent trustees in advancing public libraries.”   Therefore, we strive to provide a range of services to trustees and boards to make them leaders in BC’s library community.  The products and services we offer include an annual conference for trustees, training workshops, trustee awards, bulletins, newsletters, and more. 

BCLTA also fills an important strategic role, providing organized representation to the provincial government for library trustees, and undertaking advocacy work on behalf of trustees and public libraries with various levels of government and the public.  Our ongoing advocacy work includes:

• Regular meetings with the Director of the Public Library Services Branch to discuss library issues from a trustee perspective, and to advocate for positive changes in provincial support for libraries;
• An annual meeting with the Minister responsible for libraries;
• Meetings with other provincial government ministers and staff as the need arises;
• Participation at the annual Union of BC Municipalities Convention;
• Regular meetings with other provincial library associations, such as the BC Library Association (BCLA) and the Association of BC Public Library Directors (ABCPLD);
• Monitoring government legislation that directly or indirectly affects libraries; and
• Collaborating with the Canadian Library Trustees Association on national issues.

BCLTA is governed by a Board of nine and the work of the Board is supported by an Administrative Assistant.

Membership in BCLTA is based on an institutional membership for the library board, which includes membership privileges for each individual board member.

Associate membership in BCLTA is available to a library systems or person with a deep interest in libraries for an annual fee of $100.  Associate members may speak at Association meetings when recognized by the Chair, but may neither hold office nor vote.  As an associate member, you are entitled to certain basic BCLTA services, such as newsletters, bulletins, assistance with information requests, etc.

For the 20110/2012 year, member boards to January 16, 2012 include:

Institutional Members Alert Bay Public Library Beaver Valley Public Library Bowen Island Public Library Burnaby Public Library Burns Lake Public Library Castlegar & District Public Library Chetwynd Public Library Coquitlam Public Library Cranbrook Public Library Creston Public Library Dawson Creek Municipal Public Library Elkford Public Library Fernie Public Library Fort Nelson Public Library Fort St. James Public Library Fort St. John Public Library Fraser Lake Public Library Fraser Valley Regional Library Gibsons & District Public Library Grand Forks & District Public Library Granisle Public Library Greater Victoria Public Library Greenwood Public Library Hazelton District Public Library Houston Public Library Hudson's Hope Public Library Invermere Public Library Kaslo & District Public Library Kimberley Public Library Kitimat Public Library Lillooet Area Public Library Mackenzie Public Library McBride & District Public Library Midway Public Library Nakusp Public Library Nelson Municipal Library New Westminster Public Library North Vancouver City Library North Vancouver District Public Library Okanagan Regional Library Pemberton & District Public Library Pender Island Public Library Penticton Public Library Port Moody Public Library Pouce Coupe Public Library Powell River Municipal Library Prince George Public Library Prince Rupert Library Radium Public Library Richmond Public Library Rossland Public Library Salmo Public Library Association Salt Spring Island Public Library Sechelt Public Library Smithers Public Library Sparwood Public Library Squamish Public Library Stewart Public Library Surrey Public Library Taylor Public Library Terrace Public Library Trail & District Public Library Tumbler Ridge Public Library Valemount Public Library Vancouver Island Regional Library Vancouver Public Library Vanderhoof Public Library West Vancouver Memorial Library Whistler Public Library

Associate Members InterLINK Federated Public Library System Kootenay Library Federation North East Library Federation North Central Library Federation North Coast Library Federation IslandLink Library Federation