Vancouver Public Library Receives $2 Million to Expand Its Central Branch

VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY CENTRAL BRANCH | IMAGE: THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT

Vancouver Public Library (VPL) has received $2 million in funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund. The money will be used to expand the eighth and ninth levels of the VPL Central Branch in downtown Vancouver. The funding was announced Feb. 10.

The expansion will allow VPL to provide increased services to the public, create arts and heritage spaces for cultural programming and artist-in-residence activities, and produce a community gathering space and publicly accessible rooftop garden.

The additional venues will be free for use by professional arts, heritage and community groups wishing to increase their profile and build new audiences by providing free presentations to the public.

"The Vancouver Public Library plays a unique role in the city-beyond offering traditional library services. It also provides free space for artistic and cultural groups to perform, exhibit their work, practice and train," says the Hon. Hedy Fry (MP, Vancouver Centre). "I am thrilled to see the addition of increased space and capacity offered to Vancouverites, including our artists and our creators."