Burnaby Public Library | News and Events

Job Interview Skills and Self Marketing workshop

Burnaby Public Library presents a free workshop for newcomers given by MOSAIC. This workshop will help you to:

Be prepared before and during the interview to reduce the stress.
Review common questions and sample answers most likely to appear during the interview.
Interact with interviewers with knowledgeable answers for the desired job.

To register, please contact MOSAIC and have your PR card ready. Please 604-438-8214 ext. 112 or email fbilikano@mosaicbc.com

Teen Reading Circle

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Join our Teen Reading Circle! Discover teen books and stories, and practice your English conversation and reading skills in a supportive environment. At our Teen Reading Circle we discuss great books and read short stories together. This program is open to Teens with all levels of English skills. The program is free, and registration is required. You can register online or at any BPL Information Desk. This program is for teens Grades 8 - 12. Our schedule for the summer months is listed below:

Teen Reading Circle, Wednesday, June 8th at Metrotown Branch, 7-8pm

Teen Reading Circle, Wednesday, June 22nd at Metrotown Branch, 7-8pm

Teen Reading CIrcle, Thursday, July 12th at Metrotown Branch, 4:30-5:30pm

Teen Reading Circle, Thursday, July 19th at Metrotown Branch, 4:30-5:30pm

Teen Reading Circle, Wednesday, August 3rd at Metrotown Branch, 7-8pm

Teen Reading Circle, Wednesday, August 17th at Metrotown Branch, 7-8pm

Reading Buddies at McGill

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Application deadline extended to Friday, January 26!

Reading Buddies is a program where teens and children are paired up for one-on-one reading in a safe, fun and friendly environment. The goals of this program are to provide children with extra reading practice and to provide teens with leadership skills and an opportunity to engage with community.

The McGill branch will be hosting Reading Buddies Tuesdays, February 6 - March 6, 2018 from 4 - 5:30pm. Teens are expected to attend all five session.

Interested teens should submit their applications to any Burnaby Public Library information desk. Application forms are available to print here. Successful applicants will be called for a phone interview.

Successful applicants are expected to attend a mandatory training Tuesday, January 30 from 4 - 6pm at the McGill branch.

Teens grades 9 - 12 are welcome to apply. For more information on Reading Buddies please visit the Reading Buddies webpage.

TechPlay at Cameron

Choosing an e-book reader

Considering an e-reader for yourself or someone else? Before you make your purchase, it might be helpful to know which devices are library e-book friendly, and which are not.

Dedicated e-readers

Most of Burnaby Public Library's e-book collection is available through OverDrive/LibraryToGo. OverDrive maintains a list of library e-book friendly e-readers on their website. Most e-readers use e-ink technology, which is easy on the eyes and allows you to read even in bright sunlight. Some e-readers have illuminated displays that allow you to read at night, without a lamp. Please note that Kindle e-readers are NOT library e-book friendly with OverDrive in Canada.

Tablets and smartphones

Tablets (including iPads, Android tablets and Kindle Fire tablets) and smartphones are also library e-book friendly. Tablets and smartphones have full-colour backlit displays, and allow you to browse the web, check email, play games and more. The Libby app allows you to search for, download and read library e-books from OverDrive directly on your tablet or smartphone. Get the Libby app for: Android | iPhone and iPad | Windows 10

For more on devices that are library e-book friendly, see OverDrive's list of e-book devices. To access additional library resources on your tablet or smartphone, visit our Mobile and apps page.

Burnaby Public Library services during COVID-19

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We’ll continue adapting our services throughout COVID-19, with guidelines from provincial health authorities including Fraser Health and City of Burnaby Occupational Health and Safety. Visit City of Burnaby for updates on other city services.

In-branch services

Browse for items, pick up your holds and use our public computers and Wi-Fi, no appointments necessary. Our hours at all branches are:

Monday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Browsing

As of September 8, our branches are open for browsing. Come on in and browse the shelves, take a look at new books, or read the newspaper. Because we are limiting the number of people inside each branch at one time, we ask that you keep browsing to 30 minutes.

Public computers

Computers, printers and scanners will be available to use with your library card. Computers are available for 45 minute sessions. Cleaning supplies will be provided, and computers are spaced two metres (six feet) apart.

If you don’t have a library card, call 604-436-5400 to get one over the phone. You can also register for a library card when you arrive at the branch.

Wi-Fi

There is designated seating in each branch to access Wi-Fi with your device. We ask that you limit your indoor use to 45 minutes. Wi-Fi can be also accessed outside Bob Prittie Metrotown, Cameron, and McGill branches. You don't need a library card to access Wi-Fi.

What in-branch services are unavailable?

Meeting rooms are closed
In-person events and programs are cancelled

Thank you for your patience as we continue to adapt our services throughout COVID-19.

Health and safety

Here’s what we’re doing for staff and visitor safety:

Limiting the number of people inside the branch at one time,
Posting clearly marked directional signs to help you navigate inside the branch,
Providing hand sanitizer at library entrances, and other locations throughout the branch,
Enhancing cleaning procedures at our branches, including regularly sanitizing high touch areas,
Using Plexiglass barriers at service desks,

What you can do:

Limit your visits to under an hour,
Follow signage and directions from staff. There may be lineups to enter the branch,
Physically distance and keep two metres (six feet) apart,
Wash or disinfect your hands. Washrooms and hand sanitizer are available,
Stay home if you or any member of your household is feeling sick,
Wear a mask.

As announced by BC's Provincial Health Officer on November 19, 2020, masks are now required for everyone in all public indoor settings and workplaces. This order impacts all indoor spaces in City of Burnaby facilities, including recreation centres, libraries and cultural facilities. People who cannot put on or remove a mask on their own are exempt.

Is the library quarantining materials?

Guidelines for libraries and library visitors, issued by the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), state that the risk of transmission of COVID-19 on library materials is very low, and that evidence does not require libraries to quarantine or disinfect their items.

Borrowing

Get a library card

Don’t have a library card? Contact us and we’ll register you for a new account that you can use right away. Access our online resources, and if you live in Burnaby you can choose from thousands of our e-books and audiobooks in Library to Go. Or use your library card to place holds on items and we’ll notify you to pick them up at your preferred branch.

Place a hold

Use our library catalogue to place holds on items. If you need help, call 604-436-5400. Availability of items through interlibrary loans is limited at this time.

Due dates

Regular loan periods are being reintroduced for items checked out on August 3 and onward, and borrowers will begin to see due dates for items beginning in September. Please check your account for details, or contact us if you have questions.

Return items

Drop your BPL items through our book returns at any time, near the entrance of each branch. For health and safety we can only accept returns through the book drops. Due to a high volume of returns, there may be delay clearing items from your account. There are no late fines!

E-books & audiobooks

Library to Go is our largest e-book and audiobook collection. Burnaby residents, log in with your library card and download thousands of fiction and non-fiction titles for adults, teens, and kids. Borrow up to 10 titles, and place up to 20 titles on hold. We’re rapidly adding new titles, best sellers, and books in Chinese.

Get Help

Information Service

Call 604-436-5400 during our open hours or email us for information help. We can connect you to community resources and services, give you reading recommendations, or walk you through our online resources and e-books and audiobooks. We’re available to help you with any question!

Home Library and Accessible Service

If you are unable to come into the library to borrow items, you may be eligible for home delivery. Visit Home Library and Accessible Service to find out about types of service available.

Last updated: December 4, 2020

RBdigital Ends December 17

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Our subscription to RBdigital is ending. Access to downloadable audiobooks and-ebook titles in RBdigital will end after December 17, and access to RBdigital magazines and IndieFLIX will end in late December. If you have recently downloaded titles from RBdigital, you can continue to keep them until their due date.

You'll find even more digital content in our other platforms that specialize in audiobooks, e-books, magazines and movies. If you don't know about them already, keep reading to learn about what you can find in OverDrive, Pressreader and Kanopy!

Listen to audiobooks (and read e-books) from OverDrive

Audiobooks in RBdigital are now in our single audiobook and e-book collection: OverDrive. You don't have to use two platforms or apps anymore, so you can focus on browsing over 24,000 downloadable audiobooks and e-books, all in one place. There's audiobooks just for teens and kids, too!

And with all audiobooks and e-books from a single platform, you can now track all of your digital checkouts with everything else on your library account. Borrow up to ten digital titles and place up to 20 digital titles on hold.

Due to licensing, BPL's OverDrive collection is available to Burnaby residents only. If you live outside of Burnaby, contact your home library for help with borrowing downloadable audiobooks and e-books.

Browse online magazines (and newspapers) with PressReader

Flip and scroll through an online magazine that looks identical to the print version in PressReader. Browse familiar titles found on RBdigital and discover new favourites specializing in business and current events, fashion, health and fitness, home and garden and more! Choose from over 4,000 magazines and 2,000 newspapers, in over 60 languages from 100 countries. Read online on your computer or download up to ten titles on the PressReader app.

Watch online movies with Kanopy

If you've previously used IndieFLIX, try Kanopy: our new platform for streaming over 20,000 movies, documentaries, foreign films, classic cinema, independent films and educational videos. It includes content in over 100 languages. There's movies for everyone, including a collection just for kids. Kanopy can be enjoyed on your TV, mobile phone, tablet or online. Due to licensing, BPL's Kanopy subscription is available to Burnaby residents only.