Interior of the Aberdeen Tiny Library. (Image Credit: TNRD)

By Victor Kaisar

Tiny Library Hours

Expanded hours at Aberdeen Tiny Library take effect May 1

May 1, 2025 | 10:13 AM

KAMLOOPS — It’s a new era for the Aberdeen Tiny Library, as it will be open for 32 hours a week, six days a week, starting Thursday (May 1).

The expanded hours comes after the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) board approved a three-year lease extension for the 352-square foot library that is located inside the Aberdeen Mall Food Court.

“We heard from patrons loud and clear that they love the Aberdeen Tiny Library and wanted to see more open hours,” Margo Schiller, the Manager of Kamloops Libraries and Engagement, said.

“The TNRD Board’s unanimous support means that we’ll be open more often to increase the convenience of accessing this library for patrons. It also means that all three Kamloops libraries will be open Sundays, year-round.”

The tiny library was opened to much fanfare in 2023 as a pilot program with a goal of primarily serving residents in southwest Kamloops. Operated by the Thompson-Nicola Regional Library (TNRL), it had previously been open for four hours a day, Wednesday to Saturday.

Two and Out

PETERS: Keeping people cool ain't what it used to be

19h ago

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: The NDP does it to us again

May 15, 2025

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Celebrating National Nursing Week

May 14, 2025

The TNRL has said the more than 23,500 materials were circulated through the tiny library branch during its first year of operation. It also said more than 18,000 people visited the library in 2024.

“This is our long awaited opportunity to create opportunities for library services in the southwest until such time as a permanent solution comes forward,” Chief Librarian Judy Moore said in February.

“It’s been an enormous success and probably is our highest circulation per square foot in the system but perhaps in all of British Columbia.”

The TNRL also says it will be adding new Storytime & Craft programming at the Tiny Library, which will add to the Teeny Tiny Storytime and Books N’ Blenz programing currently offered.

On May 7 and June 4, the TNRL says there will be two special programs of Storytime & Craft at the West Highlands Community Centre in place of Teeny Tiny Storytime. A weekly Storytime will be held on Friday mornings at the West Highlands Community Centre, beginning this fall.

“It’s been great to see the growth of the Aberdeen Tiny Library since day one,” Branch Head Mike Brown, said. “We’re excited to offer more for patrons – from open hours to programs – and to continue that personalized library experience we’ve become known for.”

Moore told the TNRD Board that the fate of the tiny library will be determined once a plan for a new, permanent library in southwest Kamloops has been developed.

“Given real estate costs, we’ve certainly done our due diligence in terms of looking at various sites and options for south Kamloops,” Moore told CFJC in January.

“We recognize that we’re unlikely to purchase a site for a South Kamloops library, so instead we’ll be pivoting and looking at other options that we hope to bring to the board before too long.”

New Aberdeen Tiny Library hours of operation:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday: 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The holds locker and vending machine are accessible during the hours when Aberdeen Mall is open.