Understand the Cuts and Implications

You, the library managers and staff, are the primary contact for the public – become informed on the issue and be proactive about informing your patrons. Help your patrons help save funding for BC’s public libraries by explaining how this lack of provincial funding directly impacts them as patrons and the services that BC’s public libraries currently offer.

Now is the time to emphasize and publicize your library’s services and programs to everyone who visits your library, it will help to explain why continued provincial funding for BC’s public libraries is extremely important and how without this funding many of these services will cease to exist.

Inform your patrons that there have been strong indications that the Province has decided to stop providing the traditional operating grants that fund collaborative province-wide programs - your library manager will be able to tell you what percentage of this grant your library system receives. This funding may be cut from the current and subsequent budgets and without this funding there will be significant cuts or elimination of these programs and services:

  • Open Access – In 2008, open access to library collections resulted in more than 5.4 million items being borrowed between communities, creating substantial provincial cost savings by borrowing rather than buying duplicate books.
  • Online Resources – BC residents have 24/7 online access to hundreds of online full text magazines and databases purchased cooperatively by BC libraries. This saves significant tax payer dollars and ensures that BC’s rural and remote citizens have the same access to information available in BC’s larger centres.
  • AskAway – A collaborative reference service provided by BC libraries. Residents can get free quality help with research on any topic or question from experienced librarians and library technicians.
  • BC OneCard – The BC OneCard program ensures that no matter where you are in BC you have access to local libraries and library services for free by showing your home library card and photo identification.
  • Literacy Programming – Babies and kids around BC can maintain and enhance their literacy skills at all BC public libraries with the BC Summer Reading Club and Books for BC Babies. Both programs are offered free of charge and ensure that all children in BC have the opportunity to develop their reading skills.

The provincial government has legislated how public libraries are created and how they will work together to create province-wide resources for British Columbians. The operating grants that are being withheld by the provincial government are the glue that holds the BC public library system together; they fund essential cooperative programs and services that cannot and will not be funded at the municipal level and will cease to exist if the provincial grants that support them are cut. During this economic downturn, there has been a significant increase in the usage of BC public libraries. These cuts will seriously impact job seekers, people with low incomes and young children. Public library programs and services help change lives. Our public libraries offer accessible resources of free reliable information to help people find jobs, access government services, foster early childhood literacy development and support for learners of all ages. Cutting public library grants from the provincial budget will cause significant harm and will save very little relative to the loss in valuable library services that BC communities will suffer.

Tell Patrons How They Can Help

These essential services must be protected for the benefit of all BC residents. Inform every patron about what they can do to help save funding for BC’s public libraries. Invite them to voice their opinion and show their support for BC public libraries by joining the campaign to stop these cuts. Encourage your patrons to do any or all of the following:

  • Ask them to join the postcard campaign by signing and mailing a postcard to the Hon. Premier Gordon Campbell – postcards will be available at your library.
  • Encourage them to call or send a letter to their local BC Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) and/or the Minister of Education, Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid
  • Invite them to send a letter to the local newspaper editor stating their support for continued provincial operating grants for BC public libraries.

Utilize the Toolkit

Here you will find the support tools you need to get your patrons involved in the campaign to stop public library cuts in BC here. Click on the links below to download and print the postcard, posters, talking points and more.

Background

The provincial government has legislated how the libraries are created and how they will work together to create province-wide resources for British Columbians. BC provincial public libraries have not yet received their 2009 annual operating grants from the provincial government, nor have they been told how much money they will be receiving – both of which usually happen earlier in the fiscal year. There have been strong indications that the Province has decided to stop funding libraries and that this funding may be cut from the current and subsequent budgets.

The operating grants that are being withheld by the provincial government are the glue that holds the BC public library system together; they fund essential cooperative programs and services that cannot and will not be funded at the municipal level and will cease to exist if the provincial grants that support them are cut.

During this economic downturn, there has been a significant increase in the usage of BC public libraries. Cutting public library grants from the provincial budget will cause significant harm and will save very little relative to the loss in valuable library services that BC communities will suffer.

Current News Coverage of BC Public Libraries