Grant funding 2009 - BCLA's Response
Page updated Monday, Nov. 2/09 (please check back regularly for more information):
Updates:
Please follow the below link to read an article in Victoria's Times Colonist newspaper about cuts to the GVPL system following reductions in government funding. http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Cuts+force+library+pare+books+Sundays/2169871/story.html
Rhian Piprell, BCLA Member, Books for Babies Committee Member and Chief Librarian of Coquitlam Public Library is quoted extensively in Shelley Fralic's article about Books for Babies in the Vancouver Sun (see the front page of the Sept. 22 Vancouver Sun or: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/
Raise+Reader+Funding+cuts+baby+literacy+program+life+support/2018705/story.html)
Lynne Jordon, BCLA's past-president, was interviewed on CBC Radio One in Victoria: http://www.cbc.ca/ontheisland/media/200908240000feca.ram for the Real Player file, or go to http://www.cbc.ca/ontheisland/ and scroll to Interviews > Lynne Jordon. This link may not be available long term.
Alane Wilson, BCLA's Executive Director, was interviewed by CTV British Columbia television on Tuesday, August 25th. The clip that includes parts of her interview is currently available at: http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090825/bc_legislature_090824/20090825/?hub=BritishColumbiaHome or http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca and click "Protests grow over HST and provincial funding cuts" or "Renu Bakshi on B.C. program cuts"
Thursday, August 20th:
A preliminary announcement about public library funding was made by the Ministry of Education today (click here to download the letter received by BCLA). Below please find the response of the Association of BC Public Library Directors, the BC Library Association, and the BC Library Trustees' Association to this news.
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BC's Library Associations are pleased to see that the provincial government recognizes the integral role public libraries play in community development and literacy and is therefore avoiding deep cuts to library funding. The funding level for 2009/10 has been announced as $13.7 million, or 78% of the normal provincial allocation to public libraries in BC. As the budget process is ongoing, details on grants that will not be funded have yet to be announced. We do, however, appreciate that public libraries will be able to continue providing most of the services traditionally funded by the Province.
These are fiscally challenging times and we understand that temporary cuts, while difficult, are necessary. While long-term funding reductions will inevitably result in serious cuts to programs and services, we hope to work in cooperation with government to restore and enhance funding to libraries as the provincial economic picture improves. Other provinces have found the means to increase library funding in these difficult times, and we are confident that BC, with its strong commitment to literacy, can and will do the same.
We extend a heartfelt thank you to the public library community and to BC’s many library users and supporters for voicing their concerns to the provincial government over potential funding cuts. And we thank the provincial government for taking these concerns into account.
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UPDATE:A preliminary announcement about public library funding was made by the Ministry of Education on Thursday, August 20, 2009. The letter sent to BCLA about the funding situation can be found at: http://www.bcla.bc.ca/082009BCLA Grant Letter.pdf BCLA's response has been posted above.
Background: Public libraries in BC have not received their annual operating grants from the provincial government. They also have not been informed of the amount of the grant they will be receiving. BCLA has not learned of any decisions by the provincial government, but we are very concerned about the situation. We are particularly worried because some libraries rely on the grants for up to half of their annual funding, and we are already well into the fiscal year. While other libraries may not derive a large percentage of their funding from the operating grants, a cut in grant funding would still be extremely serious, especially because of the increased demand on library services that is likely to continue during the economic downturn. BCLA has been working with the BC Library Trustees' Association and the Association of BC Public Library Directors on this serious issue.
Media Coverage:
Monday Magazine, July 23, 2009: http://mondaymag.com/articles/entry/public-eye-july-23/news/
Times Colonist, July 24, 2009: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Libraries+talk+funding+with/1823937/story.html
Vancouver Sun, July 25, 2009:
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Public+libraries+brace+cuts+grant+program+reviewed/1828344/story.html
Public Eye Online, July 29, 2009: Video interview with Andy Ackerman:
http://www.publiceyeonline.com/archives/004106.html#more
Georgia Straight, July 31, 2009:
http://www.straight.com/article-245102/bc-libraries-facing-cuts
Maple Ridge News, August 6, 2009:
http://www.bclocalnews.com/tri_city_maple_ridge/mapleridgenews/news/52613827.html
QCI Observer, August 7, 2009
http://www.qciobserver.com/Article.aspx?Id=4023
Nanaimo Daily News, August 11, 2009:
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=865c62e7-4b30-4907-93e9-2f5f5c118e1a
Comox Valley Record, August 11, 2009:
http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_north/comoxvalleyrecord/news/52979587.html
CBC Radio - BC Almanac Program, Friday, August 14, 2009:
(file has been removed from CBC's site)
Richmond News, August 26, 2009: http://www2.canada.com/richmondnews/news/story.html?id=732a85b8-6ff6-44ba-abc6-767133affac1
Resources and further information:
BCLA Letter to Minister MacDiarmid, requesting a meeting:
www.bcla.bc.ca/to_macdiarmid.pdf
BC Library Trustees' Association Advocacy pages on the 2009 Grant Freeze: http://bclta.org/09pgf.html
For those on Facebook, we encourage you to join the Stop BC Library Cuts group and publicize it in your profile. The more people who join, the larger profile it will receive. The group can be accessed here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=115269260975&ref=nf and provides links to the petition as well as the Premier's address.
Stop BC Library Cuts Webpage:
http://www.stopbclibrarycuts.ca/
Please see their Media page for more links to media articles and blogs about the situation. See their Staff / Public / Board / Friends pages for downloadable, printable postcards, posters and bookmarks. Sign the petition on their site. Get background and talking points.
BCLA Webpage on more Advocacy links and ideas (will continue to be updated as more links come in):
http://www.bcla.bc.ca/page/more%20advocacy%20links.aspx
Letters and messages sent or copied to BCLA:
July 27: letter copied to BCLA from CUPE BC (please excuse low resolution scan from fax):
Click here to download (PDF) or go to: www.bcla.bc.ca/from-CUPE-BC-270709.PDF
July 28: letter copied to BCLA from Kitimat Library Trustees:
Click here to download (MS Word Doc) or go to: http://www.bcla.bc.ca/Premier%20Campbell.doc (if asked to log in, click Cancel).
July 30: Message from Andy Ackerman, President of BC Library Trustees' Association. See below
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Peter Fassbender (Mayor of Langley), Andy Ackerman (BCLTA President) and Maureen Woods (Fraser Valley Regional Library Director) met July 28th, with the Hon. Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid Minister of Education and Minister Responsible for Early Learning and Literacy and aides to discuss the current library situation. Jacqueline van Dyk (Public Library Services Branch Director) was
also present.
In general, the meeting was very positive with the Minister assuring us that the government fully supports libraries. She was disappointed that we had gone to the media prior to this meeting but we explained that we had requested a meeting a couple of months ago and had not heard back from her. Putting that together with hearing that there were going to be cuts to library funding resulted in us having to take proactive action. This also had another effect of substantially increasing awareness of the public and various levels of government to the importance of libraries and our programs offered throughout the province.
We did emphasize that libraries across BC depended on the numerous grants that the government has provided us for many years and that we certainly appreciated their past support. Many of these programs positively impact seniors, children and others who turn to the libraries for support and
services. We also thanked PLSB for their continuing support to libraries and the significance of this ongoing support.
The Minister told us that we should be hearing about budgets sometime in early August and that she is committed to working with us in the future. She stated that the government may not be able to fully support at the levels they have in the past but that she expected a positive change as the
economy improves. She also committed to meeting with us after the budgets are announced.
Our recommendation is that we continue with the current campaigns and that we may have to develop different strategies if the budget cuts are significant.
Please continue to visit www.bclta.org, or directly to the information page 2009 PROVINCIAL GRANT FREEZE http://www.bclta.org/09pgf.html
Andy Ackerman
Myriad Consulting Inc.
11720 89A St
Fort St John BC V1J 6R6
(250) 787-8457
(250) 793-7797 (cell)
(250) 787-8450 (fax)
Skype: andrewa21
www.myriadconsulting.ca
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August 10 (received): letter copied to BCLA from Hazelton District Public Library:
Click here to download (PDF) or go to: www.bcla.bc.ca/HAZELTON_TO_GC.pdf
August 10 (received): letter copied to BCLA from Pemberton & District Public Library:
Click here to download (PDF) or go to: www.bcla.bc.ca/Pemberton-to-GC.pdf
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