History of Parkland

Parkland was the first regional library in Alberta, created in 1959. More than 65 years later, Parkland Regional Library System is a municipal cooperative supporting 49 public libraries across central Alberta and serving over 200,000 residents in 64 municipalities. Parkland Regional Library System is not a public library, rather a hub which provides professional, technical, and materials support to member libraries. Parkland Regional Library System provides or assists in providing materials or services for participating libraries which they could not provide for themselves as efficiently, effectively, or economically. Parkland does not operate or govern the libraries that it serves.  

Parkland Regional Library System supports the belief that every Albertan should have equitable access to public library resources that will enable them to meet their informational, educational, cultural, and recreational needs. 

Benefits of Membership to Parkland Regional Library System

Municipalities that have joined Parkland Regional Library System are providing access to many professional services for their local public libraries, including the following:

• Purchasing, processing, and cataloging library materials to save time and money for member libraries
• Access to eResources that would otherwise be unaffordable for many member libraries
• Better accessibility to resource sharing via book delivery between member libraries and out-of-system libraries
• Professional support and training to library staff and boards in all aspects of library operations, management, and governance including collection development, programming, marketing, advocacy, and many other areas
• Support and training for library boards
• Member libraries are provided with computers, software, and technology support

View our 2023-2025 strategic plan document here. 

For more information on what Parkland does, please contact us.