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Chinook Regional Library |
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Chinook Regional Library |
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BRANCH LIBRARIES
The Chinook Regional Library has 35 Branch libraries
serving
south-west Saskatchewan. To find your nearest Branch library, check the
Region map.
Branch libraries vary in size, opening hours, and the extent of the services offered to the public. They are set up in their own permanent locations and provide hardcover books, paperback books, and other informational materials.
New books are provided to the branch by Chinook Regional Library and parts of the collection are exchanged by Chinook Regional Library throughout the year. Branch Libraries also promote various reading programs and are often the site of other cultural events in the community. A Branch Librarian is employed to operate the Branch Library.
A local library board sets local policies and ensures that the library meets the needs of the community. It is composed of regional board members from municipalities using that branch, and other interested persons appointed by the local municipal councils.
BOOKMOBILE (Discontinued Service)
A Bookmobile service was introduced to the Chinook Region in January
1972 to serve smaller communities where a full service Branch Library could
not be supported. The Bookmobile visited these communities on a three week
schedule for a limited number of hours.
Due to increased costs of maintaining this service and a declining rural population, the Bookmobile was discontinued in September 1997 and replaced with Corner Libraries and the Reader Request Line.
CORNER LIBRARIES
The Chinook Regional Library has 13 Corner libraries
serving south-west Saskatchewan. To find your nearest Corner library, check
the Region map.
Corner libraries have been introduced following discontinuance of the Bookmobile service and only offer a paperback lending service.
Corner Libraries are established in former Bookmobile communities and each community is responsible for the Corner Library location. Most are operating in a multipurpose facility such as a municipal office or post office. As a result, weekly opening hours are often more than many branch libraries.
The average collection is about 700 paperbacks and material is exchanged throughout the year. Each Corner Library is supervised by an Assistant Librarian who receives an honourarium for his or her assistance.
READER REQUEST LINE
The Reader Request Line is a 1-888 telephone service for urban and
rural Chinook patrons to request library materials in a timely manner.
The toll-free number 1-888-CRL-8844 (275-8844) (773-5564 in Swift Current) is a voice mailbox where patrons can leave their requests for books and materials 24 hours a day. The requested book or books will be delivered to the patron as soon as possible by the most convenient and economical method.
Patrons are requested to give author and title (if known), series, subject,
date needed, age level of material (easy, juvenile, adult) and whether
the material is for a school project, personal interest, or research. The
more information provided, the sooner the request can be completed.
A complete mailing address and phone number is also required.
E-MAIL REQUESTS
For patrons with Internet access, requests for books and other materials
can be sent to the Chinook Regional Library Headquarters at any time by
e-mail. The address is:
FAX REQUESTS
For patrons with access to a fax machine, requests for books and other
materials can be sent to the Chinook Regional Library Headquarters at any
time by fax. The telephone number is:
HEADQUARTERS SERVICE
If a patron has problems providing the required information on material
they need, he or she can contact Headquarters and
discuss the problem with library staff. Call (306) 773-3186, Monday to
Friday, between 8:00 am and 12:00 noon or between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm.
INTERLIBRARY LOANS
Patrons may borrow books that are not in their local branch or corner
library from other libraries by interlibrary loans.
Chinook Regional Library will initially attempt to respond to requests from its own resources. Where it cannot it will obtain the requested material from other Saskatchewan libraries, or may go to other national or international libraries if necessary.
The Regional Library collection consists of 148,005 books. It also purchased 10,930 new paperbacks in 2004. In addition, 746 audio books and 840 VHS cassettes are available for loan from the Swift Current Branch.
Chinook Regional Library is a full member of the Saskatchewan Multi-type Library System. As such, it receives free loans from other multi-type partners and patrons, and, in return, freely lends its books to those partners. Access to these other collections effectively increases the number of items directly available to our patrons from Saskatchewan alone to over three million (3,000,000).
You may request an interlibrary loan through your local branch library, by phoning the Request Line, by email to Chinook Regional Library headquarters, or by faxing headquarters at 1-306-773-0434.
PUBLIC ACCESS INTERNET COMPUTERS
Almost all Branch libraries and some Corner libraries provide public access to the Internet. Library patrons are able to search
library catalogues, search provincially licensed full-text databases such
as InfoTrac SearchBank, search the Internet, and use e-mail capabilities.
READING PROGRAMS
In cooperation with other library organisations, Chinook Regional Library
promotes a summer reading program for young people and participates annually
in Saskatchewan Library Week, held in October. In addition, many branches
have local reading programs and provide other cultural services.
"FOR THE KIDS!" This program, promoted by
the Chinook Regional Library, is aimed at placing the best books by Canada's
authors and illustrators into all its branch libraries through public donations.
For more information, see "For the Kids" on
our News and Programs page.