02/22/2025
Okanagan Regional Library Board Elects Leadership as Library Reports Milestone Annual Attendance
Kelowna, BC – February 20, 2025 – The Okanagan Regional Library (ORL) held its first Board Meeting of 2025 on February 19, a meeting that also served as the Board’s Annual General Meeting. The Board elected key leadership for the year ahead, with West Kelowna City Councillor Tasha Da Silva elected to serve as Board Chair and Vernon City Councillor Kari Gares elected to serve as Board Vice Chair.
The ORL’s Summer Reading Club (SRC) saw record-breaking participation in 2024, with 8,139 children joining—an 8% increase from 2023 and a remarkable 35% growth over pre-pandemic levels. “Summer Reading Club is one of the biggest events at our libraries,” said Ashley Machum, Head of Youth Services. “I handle the behind-the-scenes logistics so our incredible staff can focus on bringing creativity and magic to their branches. The connections they build with kids and families during SRC are truly special.”
Library program attendance is at an all-time high, reflecting the region’s enthusiasm for library services and the dedication of branch staff. ORL branches hosted 561 programs and welcomed 28,713 attendees in 2024.
The ORL’s Library of Things collection continues to grow, offering patrons unique borrowable items, from Radon and Carbon Dioxide Detection Kits to Birding Backpacks. Upcoming additions—made possible through community partnerships—include Dental Health Kits (Interior Health), and Bat Backpacks (BC Bat Society).
In February the ORL also welcomed Corinne Boback as its new Administrative Services Manager. Corinne brings 20 years of experience in local government, records management, and municipal operations.
System-wide facility improvements remain a priority for the ORL, with the recently finalized design for the North Shuswap Branch marking a major step in rebuilding after the wildfire of 2023.
As planning for Summer Reading Club 2025 gets underway, with the theme “Colour Your Summer”, the ORL remains committed to literacy, creativity, and community connection.
For more information, please visit www.orl.bc.ca.
About the Okanagan Regional Library
The Okanagan Regional Library enriches the lives of people in the region through diverse collections, responsive services, innovative programs, and unique resources. With the community’s incredible support, ORL branches become transformative spaces of learning, creativity, culture, and connection.
