As Library Journal's 2014 Library of the Year, one would expect to see innovative programs and services, forward-thinking mission and values and an over-the-top commitment to community from Edmonton Public Library (EPL) and, frankly, they deliver on all these categories.  This website reports on EPL's current state in terms of modern library trends, Transforming our Image, Building our Brand (Gross, 2013) and the Aspen Institute Rising to the Challenge Report (Garmer, 2014).

​

​

For a complete introduction and explanation of how to view this website, watch the video recorded by Beth Lane below.

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

​

How to use this website:

Although all of the pages can be viewed independently, we recommend that you view them in this order:

​

INTRODUCTION: This entire section is meant to give readers a general understanding and background information of the city of Edmonton and EPL.

• EDMONTON: Contains information on population demographics in Edmonton.

• MISSION AND VALUES: Contains EPL's mission and value statements.

• STATISTICS: Contains numerical information gathered from EPL annual reports and other metrics documents.

​

TRENDS: EPL's adoption of current library trends is studied in this section.

• Wayfinding: Describes the way branches are set up so that patrons can find their way to the information they are looking for without help of library personnel.

• Signage and Self-service: Show how patrons can use various library services on their own without help of library personnel.

• Social Media: Explains how EPL uses social media to further their mission.

​

3 PILLARS: This entire section indicates how EPL has applied the philosophy articulated in Transforming Our Image, Building our Brand by Valerie Gross

• PILLAR 1: Self-directed education

• PILLAR 2:  Research assistance and instruction

• PILLAR 3: Instructive and enlightening experiences

• VOCABULARY:  Word choice affects the way community views the library.

​

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE: This section explains conclusions found in the Aspen Institiute : Rising to the Challenge report which articulates three areas that 21st century libraries must understand.

• PEOPLE: The constituent groups EPL serves.

• PLACE: The presence of EPL in the community.

• PLATFORM:  No longer a "warehouse of books", EPL curates information for and provides information access to the people of Edmonton.

​

CONCLUSIONS: Summarizes the entire report plus gives suggestions for additional possible areas of service to the people of Edmonton.

​

REFERENCES:  Lists all the references used in compiling this report.

​

If you would like to begin reading further now, please go to the EDMONTON page of this report.

​