Don't Pull the Plug on Libraries

We've received indications that the provincial government is considering cutting operating grants for public libraries in British Columbia. These grants support many library programs, including

• Interlibrary loans
• BC OneCard
• Summer Reading Club
• Online databases
• AskAway (the online reference service)

If the operating grants provided at the provincial level disappear, these services will simply disappear. Individual libraries cannot afford to subsidize interlibrary services without provincial funding. And if these services cease to exist, there is the distinct possibility that the staff members responsible for them will see their hours cut, if not eliminated outright.

These funding cuts are inappropriate for a few reasons:

1) Library usage increases during an economic downturn.

• Patrons turn to libraries during times of economic trouble for two major reasons: help, and inexpensive entertainment. The help comes in the form of a place to apply for employment insurance and other government programs online, type resumes, look up online job postings, and do other research. The entertainment comes from the library materials (books, videos, etc.) and programs (Summer Reading Club, book discussion groups, author visits, etc.) Both of these services (assistance and entertainment) are desperately needed when the economy is failing.
  

2) The amount of money saved would be a tiny drop in the bucket.

• According to some sources, the BC budget deficit for this year is $3-5 billion, and will probably be $2-4 billion next year (figures from "Gov predicts B.C. deficit to reach billions" on Canada.com). The total amount of provincial grants to public libraries is around $18 million annually.

• Even if the deficit ends up at the low end of the estimate, cutting library funding from the provincial government will only cover 0.6% of this year's deficit and 0.9% of next year's. If the deficit is at the upper end of the estimate, library funding from the provincial government will only be 0.36% of this year's deficit and 0.45% of next year's.
  

3) These grants account for up to 10% of a library's total funding.

• The Vancouver Sun noted that the Fraser Valley Regional Library Association "receives $2 million in grants each year, about 10 percent of its total revenue." (figures from Vancouver Sun, July 24th, online). Provincial funding represents a smaller percentage of the Tumbler Ridge Public Library's revenue, but it's still significant enough (over 5%) to cause drastic changes in service levels if the funding is cut.
  

4) These cuts will affect patrons and libraries in other ways as well.

• Patrons will no longer be able to borrow books from other libraries. This means that smaller libraries (including Tumbler Ridge) will be stuck in a tough place. Our town really does not have a large enough population to justify the purchase of books for a niche audience. If we can no longer rely on interlibrary loans we will be forced to either purchase obscure books that only one or two patrons will ever read, or abandon these patrons and their interests.

• Patrons will no longer be able to borrow and return books outside of their local library system. Travelling and vacationing patrons will no longer be able to borrow books from one library and return them to another.

• Reference capabilities in smaller towns will be reduced. Larger libraries may have a designated reference librarian, but most smaller libraries do not. AskAway (the online reference website staffed by library staff members from across the province) helps to cover this gap. Funding for AskAway comes from the provincial government. In addition, some reference sources used by library staff (such as online databases) are also funded by the provincial government. In short, if provincial funding for libraries is eliminated, reference services at smaller libraries will be hobbled by lack of access to reference sources and staff member availability.
  

So what can we do about it?

1) Visit www.stopbclibrarycuts.ca. It has more information about the potential funding cuts and has a link to an online petition asking the government to refrain from making these cuts.

2) Write your MLA. In Tumbler Ridge, our MLA is Blair Lekstrom.

Hon. Blair Lekstrom
10300 - 100th Street
Dawson Creek, BC
V1G 3T6
e-mail: blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca

3) Write to the Minister of Education, Margaret MacDiarmid

Hon. Margardet MacDiarmid
PO Box 9045
Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC
V8W 9E2
e-mail: margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca

4) Write to Premier Gordon Campbell

Hon. Gordon Campbell
Premier of British Columbia
Box 9014
Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC
V8W 9E1
e-mail: premier@gov.bc.ca


In short, we have to let members of the provincial government know that it is *not* acceptable to cut funding for libraries. Please take a moment to tell them exactly that. Don't let them pull the plug on libraries.


Thanks.

www.stopbclibrarycuts.ca