Board Policy – Library Naming

Policy Statement

Under the Library Act, the power to name, or to change the name of, our individual member libraries (including member library rooms) rests with the Board of Directors of Fraser Valley Regional Library (the “Board”).  Nevertheless, the Board acknowledges that FVRL would not exist without the involvement of its municipal and district members.  With that recognition in mind, the library naming policy permits our municipal and district members to be heard, so that the Board’s decision-making with respect to library or library room naming stays inclusive and informed, and so that FVRL has library names and room names that are at all times reflective of its stated mission, vision, and values.

Purpose

To establish a policy setting out procedures for the naming of libraries and library rooms.

Scope

This policy applies to the naming of all current and future member libraries within the FVRL system, including member library rooms.

Naming Guidelines

  1. The CEO of FVRL, any member municipality or district of FVRL, and any Board member of FVRL, may submit at any time a written proposal for naming a new library or room (or for renaming a current library or room) to the Board for its consideration.  Each proposal will be considered on its own merits and should address the factors that the Board considers when deciding proposals, as detailed in this policy.
  2. When considering a proposal, the Board will give preference to names that reflect the geographic location of the branch (e.g. names that reflect the neighbourhood, any community landmarks, or any streets or intersections where the branch is situated) and to names of deceased individuals whose reputations reflect FVRL’s stated mission, vision and values and who had strong ties, or who made significant contributions, to the betterment of FVRL and to the library community.  The Board will also consider the following non-exhaustive factors:
    • compliance with applicable laws;
    • the significance and longevity of the name to FVRL, to the library community as whole, and to the community in which the branch belongs;
    • where appropriate, honouring deceased individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the community or to the public at large; and
    • whether the use, or the continued use of a particular name, may compromise the public trust in FVRL or the reputation of FVRL.
  3. No commitment regarding the naming of a particular library or room will be made to a member municipality or district prior to the decision of the Board on the proposal
  4. The decision of the Board on a proposal is final and is not subject to change unless new and relevant information becomes available to the Board following the decision that justifies a change in decision-making by the Board, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, acting reasonably. 
  5. The decision on what to name or rename a library or room will at all times be in the sole discretion of the Board, acting reasonably.
  6. Names will not be approved where they are inconsistent with FVRL’s stated mission, vision and values, do not comply with applicable laws, are of living persons, or may reasonably be interpreted as advancing certain private, commercial, or corporate interests.

Policy Review

The Board may, in its sole discretion acting reasonably, change, terminate, or replace this policy at any time.  This policy will be reviewed by the Board at least every two years to ensure its appropriateness.