Library Management

Sandra became Vancouver's Chief Librarian in December 2010. She returned to Vancouver Public Library after serving as the Director of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre at the University of British Columbia. Prior to that appointment, Sandra held two senior management positions at the Vancouver Public Library, first as the Director of Branches East/South and Outreach Services, followed by Director of Systems and Special Projects.

While at VPL, Sandra served as the National Director of the federal government-funded national demonstration project Working Together, which sought to develop new ways of working with people who experience social exclusion or marginalization.  Sandra also led the Library's website redesign process, initiated and ran the province-wide Beyond Words program as well as participating in and leading other projects.

Prior to coming to VPL, Sandra served as Port Moody Public Library's Manager of Library Services, as a Cybrarian at Vancouver's online learning community Suite101.com, as a reference librarian and cataloguer in Abilene, Texas, and as a cataloguer at Calgary Public Library. Sandra is currently a member on the Parent Advisory Committee for her son’s elementary school.

Sandra served on the BC Library Association Board, was co-editor of the Pacific Northwest Library Association Quarterly, and was a member of Vancouver's Triage Emergency Services and Care Society Board. Sandra is currently a member of the British Columbia Library Association and the Canadian Library Association.

604-331-4003 / Sandra.Singh@vpl.ca
Executive Assistant: Chrysalyn Tolentino, Chrysalyn.Tolentino@vpl.ca

Christina joined Vancouver Public Library in 2006 as Manager, InfoAction, the Library’s fee-based research service. She became Manager, Online Information & News in 2010, responsible for managing the Library’s online services, including the website, electronic resources and related training, email and telephone information services and in-person services at the Central Library, Level 5. Prior to joining VPL, Christina worked at the BC Securities Commission as a website manager, usability specialist and research librarian.

Christina is a member of the Canadian Urban Libraries Council Task Force on eContent and Co-Chair of the InterLINK Collaborative Virtual Reference project. She was Treasurer of the BC Library Association in 2009-10 and received the President’s Award for service to the association in 2011. Christina is a Fellow of the Special Libraries Association and a past-president of its Western Canada Chapter.

Christina received a Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of BC in 2001.

604-331-4070 / Christina.deCastell@vpl.ca

Shelagh joined Vancouver Public Library in 1977. As Director of the landmark Central Library, she oversees public and online services, multicultural and immigrant services and InfoAction, the Library’s fee-based research service. Working with the Director, Neighbourhood & Youth Services she is responsible for development of information, reference and electronic services. Shelagh was formerly Division Head, Business & Economics and was the Planning Librarian for the Central Library. Shelagh’s experience also includes Division Head, Circulation, Interlibrary Loan & Quick Information Service, extensive project work and many years as a reference librarian. Shelagh is a member of the Canadian and British Columbia Library Associations and the Public Libraries division of the American Libraries Association.

Shelagh is a graduate of the Leadership Vancouver Program and an active community volunteer. She is a Member of the Board of Directors of the Women’s Information Safe House Drop-In Centre Society (WISH) based in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, one of Canada’s poorest neighbourhoods.

604-331-4004 / Shelagh.Flaherty@vpl.ca

Diana joined Vancouver Public Library in February 2007. She leads a team of five managers and oversees service delivery in 21 Library branch locations as well as children’s and youth services. Diana has twenty-five years experience in libraries throughout British Columbia and Manitoba.

Before joining VPL, Diana was Chief Librarian at Port Moody Public Library and led the library through significant growth including: implementation of year-round Sunday openings, fund development planning and creating a building expansion committee. Prior to her time at Port Moody, Diana was Director, Systems and Technical Services at Fraser Valley Regional Library. Diana has been involved with the BC Library Association Executive, serving as President and Treasurer. Diana has a Masters of Library Science and completed a Certificate in Leadership in the Public Sector from Royal Roads University in 2008.

604-331-4009 / Diana.Guinn@vpl.ca

Eric joined Vancouver Public Library in December 1985. He obtained his Chartered Accountant designation in 1979 and prior to taking up his position at the Library worked at Thorne Riddell Chartered Accountants (now KPMG). Eric is married to Trish and has three daughters: one in university and two in high school. Eric is active in soccer as an assistant coach for both of his daughters’ teams as well as a referee.

604-331-4018 / Eric.Smith@vpl.ca

Ingrid joined the City of Vancouver in 1998 as a Human Resources Consultant for the Board of Parks & Recreation and was the City's Manager, Compensation & Benefits for 10 years prior to her secondment to VPL in 2010. She became VPL's permanent Director, Human Resources in 2012. 

Ingrid relocated to Vancouver from London, Ontario in 1998. She graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a BA in Sociology and completed her Human Resource Management certification at Fanshawe College.

604-331-4052 / Ingrid.VanKemenade@vpl.ca

Daphne joined Vancouver Public Library in March 2009. Her experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors includes strategic planning, media relations and brand management. She is a graduate of Carleton University's school of Journalism with a Masters of Business Administration from Royal Roads University and an Executive Masters of Library Information Science from San Jose State University.

Daphne is a community facilitator and graduate of Bay Area Leadership, a community development program in southern Ontario. She is an experienced presenter with the Ontario Library Association and the Canadian Library Association. Daphne co-authors a column in Feliciter (CLA) about leadership and change management issues.

604-331-4044 / Daphne.Wood@vpl.ca

Stephen joined Vancouver Public Library in 2012, and has extensive expertise and experience leading marketing and communications in large, diverse organizations; he has worked with agencies, non-profits and public-sector organizations. A journalist by training, his earliest communications work was in community and national media as a reporter, editor and photographer, and he was a Vancouver-based Western Canada correspondent for several U.S. and international news organizations.

He moved into marketing roles at the B.C. Institute of Technology and then Vancouver Community College, where for nearly 10 years he led the college's marketing and communications department, which during his tenure won several national excellence awards for its work. He has been a faculty member in part-time studies at BCIT, and is an e-communications contributor supporting one of B.C.'s largest non-profit development agencies.

604-331-3895 / Stephen.Barrington@vpl.ca

Ross joined Vancouver Public Library in 1999 and before completing a Master of Library Science worked as a Library Assistant and Shipper. He is based at the Central Library and manages Lending and Multicultural Services, Literature and Social Sciences and Popular Reading,. Ross has been involved with programming at VPL and as an accomplished jazz musician created the successful Jazz 101 series.

Ross received a Master of Library Science from the University of BC in 1999.

604-331-3693 / Ross.Bliss@vpl.ca

Beth joined Vancouver Public Library in 1999 as an auxiliary librarian. She was head of the Carnegie Branch on the downtown Eastside for seven years, and was most recently the project manager for VPL's Downtown Eastside/Strathcona branch and the Central Library master plan. She joined the management team in October 2012 and currently manages the Terry Salman branch, VPL's newest location, in the Hillcrest Centre. Beth also chairs VPL's Community-Led Libraries committee.

Beth is an adjunct faculty member at the iSchool at UBC, teaching community-led librarianship, and is chair of PovNet, an organization that facilitates community-building among poverty advocates. Beth is an active member of the B.C. Library Association, in particular the intellectual freedom committee and First Nations interest group.

Beth received a Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of B.C. in 1999.

604-331-3791 / Beth.Davies@vpl.ca

Kirsty Joined Vancouver Public Library in 1994 as an auxiliary Reference Librarian and has assumed increasingly senior positions leading up to her appointment as Manager, South Area Branches in 2011. Kirsty has been an Assistant Manager at the Central Library as well as Manager of the Hastings, Collingwood and Champlain Heights Branches.

Kirsty is an active member of the BC Library Association and a number of VPL committees.

Kirsty received a Master of Library Science from the University of Western Ontario in 1993.

604-331-4029 / Kirsty.Elmslie@vpl.ca

Daniela joined Vancouver Public Library in 1979 as a Library Assistant and became a Librarian in 1989, working at both neighbourhood branches and the Central Library. Daniela became Head of the Mount Pleasant Branch in 2000 and was appointed Manager, North Area Branches in 2007.

Daniela is a member of the Canadian and BC Library Associations, the Public Library Association, a division of the American Library Association, and an executive member of the University of BC's School of Library Archival and Information Studies Alumni.

Daniela is bilingual in French and English and has a good working knowledge of Spanish.

Daniela received a Master of Library and Information Services from the University of BC in 1989.

604-331-4030 / Daniela.Esparo@vpl.ca

Based at the Oakridge Branch, Susan is responsible for five branches on Vancouver's west side as well as Outreach Services. She has built her library career at Vancouver Public Library and has served as the Head of a number of branches and Central Library divisions as well specialized system-wide services. She became a Manager in 2007 at the Central Library before moving to the West Area Branches in 2009.

Susan received a Master of Library Science from the University of BC in 1979.

604-331-4103 / Susan.Everall@vpl.ca

Janet joined Vancouver Public Library in 1980 as a Library Assistant, became a Systems Support Technician in 1981 and Supervisor of the Systems Group in 1985. Janet returned to University and earned a Master of Information Science in 1995 and became the Library's Systems Librarian upon graduation. She was appointed Manager, Systems & IT in 2009.

Janet received a Master of Information Science from the University of Western Ontario in 1995.

604-331-4075 / Janet.Horne@vpl.ca

Julie started as a children's librarian at Vancouver Public Library in 1985 and has acted as a Branch Head and Manager of diverse portfolios in Library Branches and at the Central Library. She was appointed Manager, Children's & Youth Services in February 2011. Julie was a Protocol Officer during Vancouver's 2010 Winter Games, developing, supporting and hosting dignitary itineraries prior to and during the Games.

Julie is a member of the Canadian, BC and Pacific Northwest Library Associations.

Julie received a Master of Library Science from the University of BC in 1985.

604-331-3666 / Julie.Iannacone@vpl.ca

Dawn joined Vancouver Public Library in 1993 as a Children's Librarian and has held positions as a Reference Librarian, Multicultural Coordinator, Branch Head and Area Manager. She is currently based at the Central Library.

Dawn is an instructor with the BC government Community Library Training Program, tutoring courses in Collection Management, Reference and Information Skills, and Supervisory Skills. She is president of the University of BC's School of Library, Archival and Information Studies (SLAIS) Alumni executive and sits on the SLAIS Admissions Committee. Dawn is a member of the Canadian and BC Library Associations and the Public Library Association, a division of the American Library Association.

Dawn received a Master of Library Science from the University of BC in 1993.

604-331-3636 / Dawn.Ibey@vpl.ca

Barbara joined Vancouver Public Library in February 2012 after holding branch head and management positions at Regina Public Library for four years. Earlier, Barbara was a consultant with First Nations communities in Ontario developing library services through staff development and community-led practices. She created the Staff Development course for the Ontario Library Services leadership training for public library CEOs and managers. Barbara holds a Professional Leadership Certificate from the University of Regina and served as President of the Saskatchewan Library Association. She is the Professional Development Section Editor of Partnership: The Canadian Journal of Library and Information Practice and Research.

Barbara is a member of the Canadian and BC Library Associations.

Barbara received a Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of BC in 2006.

604-331-3686 / Barbara.Kelly@vpl.ca

Chris Joined Vancouver Public Library in 1978 and has managed a wide range of services, collections and departments, including neighbourhood branches and Central Library divisions. She has also been responsible for collection management for the overall Library system and has supervised the collection selections teams and interlibrary loan services.

Chris has developed and delivered occupational health training for VPL and other libraries and also teaches human resources management for the University of BC School of LIbrary, Archival and Information Studies.

She is an active member of the BC Library Association, including past Conference Chair and Treasurer, and also a member of the Public Library Association, a division of the American Library Association.

Chris received a Master of Library Science from the University of BC in 1979.

604-331-3721 / Chris.Middlemass@vpl.ca

Anne joined Vancouver Public Library in 2002 as Project Manager for the Canadian Health Network project. She became Manager, InfoAction (the Library's fee-based research service) in 2004, was Head of the Hastings Branch and joined the management team in July 2007. Anne currently oversees strategic priorities, staffing and financial administration for six neighbourhood branches in East Vancouver. She co-manages the multi-partner Mount Pleasant Centre which includes the Library branch, a community centre, daycare and cafe. In partnership with the Vancouver Foundation, Anne implemented the Library's First Nations Storyteller in Residence program which is the first such program at a BC public library.

Anne is an active member of the Canadian and BC Library Associations.

Anne received a Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of BC in 2002.

604-665-3838 / Anne.Olsen@vpl.ca