Chinook Regional Library

The Chinook Regional Library has provided public library service to Southwest Saskatchewan since 1971 through its network of 34 Branch libraries and 13 Corner libraries. The library covers an area of 49,949 sq. km. (19,286 sq. miles) and serves a population of 46,184.

The mission of the Chinook Regional Library is to enable its local libraries to provide equitable access to information for cultural, recreational, and educational development in the most cost efficient and cost effective manner.

The Regional Library collection consists of 156,363 books and 11,506 new paperbacks were purchased in 2006. In addition, 977 audio books and 920 videoformat materials are available for loan, the majority at the Swift Current Branch. Chinook Regional Library is a full member of the Saskatchewan Multi-type Library System. As such, it freely lends its books to other multi-type partners and patrons, and receives free loans in return from those partners. Access to these other collections effectively increases the number of items available to our patrons to over three million (3,000,000).

The Regional Library obtains its revenue through an annual provincial government grant and annual contributions from the 93 participating municipalities. With these funds, we maintain an administrative headquarters and provide books and programs to residents of all ages throughout the Southwest. The regional headquarters is centrally located in Swift Current.

We are governed by a board composed of appointed representatives from each participating municipality. Annually, an executive is elected from the board to carry out the day-to-day business of the board and the operation of the regional library.

The Chinook Regional Library is part of the provincial public library network, which consists of eight regional systems and two municipal systems, in Regina and Saskatoon (Regional map).

Please visit your nearest public library ... we are at your service.