Welcome to Brian Harding, CEO of Greater Sudbury Public Library, our newest member of CULC/CBUC.
The Greater Sudbury Public Library formed in 2001 following a municipal amalgamation process which created the largest municipality in Ontario by land area. Our geography is a defining characteristic of our library system: we are 13-branch library system serving an urban core as well as numerous suburban and rural communities outside of the core. Greater Sudbury is located on the traditional territory of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, the Wahnapitae First Nation and the Sagamok First Nation and has a significant urban indigenous population. Building strong partnerships with local First Nations, Indigenous-led partner organizations, and other Indigenous stakeholders is a priority for GSPL as we continue to make our spaces and services more inclusive.
Following a governance audit in 2018 the GSPL Board has been leading significant organizational change including the hiring of its first dedicated CEO/Chief Librarian and achieving greater autonomy – both in governance and operations –from the municipality. The Board recently signed-off on a new operating agreement with the municipality which clearly defines our respective roles and responsibilities while establishing a strong foundation for continued collaboration. GSPL is about to embark on its first ever master planning process which is expected to establish strategic direction for the Library in both the long- and short-term. We look forward to learning from and collaborating with our CULC/CBUC peers as we continue this trajectory of growth and innovation.