The Chinook Arch Regional Library System is a network of independent, cooperating libraries in the southwestern corner of Alberta. Headquartered in Lethbridge, Chinook Arch serves the residents of 39 municipalities across the South.

Formed in 1992 after an extensive needs assessment process, Chinook Arch provides training, consulting, IT support and centralized purchasing, cataloguing, and processing, and delivery services.

Chinook Arch Regional Library System card holders have access to over 850,000 items, almost 20,000 digital magazines, and a growing e-book and digital audiobook collection. In addition, they have access to a Paperbacks By Mail service, a multilingual books collection, and access to the holdings of every library in Alberta via The Alberta Library. Ask your local librarian for more information.

In 2009, Chinook Arch staff:

• ordered 40,557 items;
• catalogued 54,100 items;
• made 3,312 delivery stops;
• delivered 235,000 items to member libraries;
• had 2,850 telephone conversations with library staff;
• had 2,900 email conversations with library staff;
• helped libraries share 174,536 items across the region.

Chinook Arch also hosts an annual conference for local librarians and trustees.

For more information about Chinook Arch, please call 403-380-1500 or visit the contact us page.