Whistler Library Turns into Whistler Canada Olympic House

Other BC libraries focus on Olympics-related information, extend services

Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 02/22/2010

• Whistler library closes, Vancouver stays open
• Loan periods extended
• International Living Room in Richmond branch

Well, Vancouver, British Columbia may be the official home of the 2010 Winter Olympics, but more than half the medals are being awarded in events held in the mountain resort town of Whistler.

And that has meant a significant change for the Whistler Public Library, which is serving as Whistler Canada Olympic House, an accredited hosting facility for the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia, and the Resort Municipality of Whistler.

So library service ended after January 29, and the library will reopen on March 8. Patrons were encouraged to check out an unlimited number of books and audiobooks, with a loan period of six weeks, while movies, CDs, and magazines had to be returned before closure.

The library offers a 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Research by Topic page for information about the venues, transportations, concerts and more.

In Vancouver
Meanwhile, all of Vancouver Public Library's (VPL) 21 library branches, including the Central Library, remain open. Given the challenges facing users, the library extended three-week loans to four weeks, one-week loans to two weeks, three-day loans to one week, and a week-long holds period to ten days across the city.

Given that shipping and delivery services are curtailed during the Olympics, VPL asked for donations to be suspended until March.

The library offers 2010 Winter Games: Information for Visitors and Residents, including links, brochures, guides, and more.

Spreading the word
Similarly, the North Vancouver Public Library offers various links to Olympics-related information and materials. 

At the Brighouse Branch, the Richmond Public Library, BC, has created the International Living Room (left), with electronic international newspapers and TV lounges. 

Also featured are Coach, a hands-on game and interactive science exhibition about Olympic athletes and coaches, and the Story of the Games, a display that chronicles the history of the Olympics via newspaper front pages.