The Okanagan Regional Library has served communities throughout the Okanagan and surrounding regions for 90 years, growing from an ambitious regional initiative into one of the largest public library systems in Canada.
The story began in 1936, following a successful regional referendum and the first meeting of the Library Board. Originally known as the Okanagan Union Library, the new system began with approximately 18,000 items and served a population of about 25,000 people.
The concept was ambitious for its time: communities spread across a large geographic area would work together to provide shared access to library collections and services. That commitment to regional cooperation established the foundation for the modern ORL and remains central to how the system operates today.
Over the decades, the ORL expanded alongside the communities it served. New branches opened, collections grew, and services evolved in response to changing populations, technologies, and community needs. Programming became an increasingly important part of library service, while digital collections and Online Resources extended access beyond the physical branch. More recently, Makerspaces and the Library of Things have introduced new opportunities for hands-on learning, experimentation, and skill development.
The ORL’s physical presence has evolved as well. New and renovated branches have created more flexible spaces for programming, meetings, study, collaboration, and community use. In 2023, the Adams Lake/Bush Creek East wildfire destroyed the North Shuswap Branch. Following a sustained rebuilding effort, the ORL opened a new North Shuswap Branch in 2026, restoring a permanent library presence to the community.
Today, the scale of the organization reflects how dramatically both the region and its library system have changed since 1936. The ORL operates 30 branches and serves more than 399,000 people across approximately 59,600 square kilometres. In 2025, branches recorded nearly 1.5 million visits and delivered more than 12,800 programs, attended by more than 247,000 people. Patrons also borrowed millions of physical and digital resources.
The system continues to grow and adapt. New service models, including planned pocket branches in Kelowna, are expanding the ways the ORL reaches communities, while the 2024–2029 Strategic Plan provides direction for the organization’s current priorities and future development.
Much has changed since the first Library Board met in 1936, but the principle on which the system was founded remains remarkably consistent: communities working collectively to provide broad public access to information, ideas, resources, and opportunities for learning.
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