Prepared for Jenny Kwan,   Minister of Municipal Affairs
November 13, 1998

written by the
British Columbia Library Trustees Association

in cooperation with the
British Columbia Library Association

and the
Association of British Columbia Public Library Directors

Executive Summary

The Associations representing the public libraries of British Columbia thank the Minister for meeting with them. We also acknowledge and thank the Minister for her continued support of public libraries and the number of programs and initiatives established to date. The Associations look forward to the continued strengthening of our relationship, and the benefit this will bring to libraries and residents throughout the province.

To that end, the Associations respectfully request provincial government support and urge the Ministry to take the following actions:

1. Stand firm on the cornerstone principles of good public library service as guaranteed in the Library Act:

• strong local library boards
• free access to library services

2. Maintain support for successful programs and initiatives that benefit all British Columbians:

• per capita operating grants to libraries
• services such as OutLook OnLine, B.C. Government Depository, and the Summer Reading Club
• initiatives such as Youth@BC and Community Access grants
• Library Services Branch

3. Work in tandem with the Associations to develop new relationships and partnerships that will result in increased funding and resources from alternate sources:

• assist libraries in maximizing funding made available through Industry Canada by signing letters of agreement and providing matched funding
• increase grants to the three associations that will allow further effective partnering to take place
• provide introductions and support for the development of new relationships and partnerships throughout the government and private sector

Public Libraries Play A Vital Role In The Lives Of British Columbians

Library usage among British Columbians is at an all time high. The 1997 Public Library Statistics show that 97% of the province is served by public libraries. Whether you live in the Lower Mainland, in Alert Bay or in Tumbler Ridge, you have access to the wealth of information contained in B.C.'s public libraries.

In 1997: 44,492,551 items were borrowed from public libraries in British Columbia, providing:

• advice to new parents on child rearing
• marketing strategies for new businesses
• labour market information for the unemployed
• books in other languages for new Canadians

4,511,113 reference questions were answered, such as:

• how can I get started on a home business?
• the doctor tells my mother she has breast cancer - what help is there for her and how can I contact them?
• I am on assistance and need to upgrade my skills. What programs are available?

584,500 British Columbians attended a total of 18,174 library programs, including:

• toddler storytimes
• information for new immigrants eager to integrate into British Columbia society
• Summer Reading Clubs to encourage and maintain reading skills in children
• tax seminars in English, Mandarin, and Punjabi

1,264 computers and terminals provided online catalogues, computer software, and Internet access allowing:

• individuals in remote locations access to specialized materials
• small businesses to take advantage of sophisticated software programs
• resume writers the use of the latest word processing software
• grandparents to keep in touch with their families around the world

Public libraries enhance the lives of all British Columbians, and are instrumental to the economic well being of the communities they serve. An informed and literate public is key to B.C.'s economic health. As British Columbia moves into the new millennium, public libraries are well positioned to work with government to ensure that the province continues to grow and prosper.

Provincial Support To Public Libraries Is Cost Effective And Successful

British Columbia is leading the country in a number of public library initiatives made possible through the continuing support and partnership of the Ministry. Examples include:

• CanCopy - successful negotiation of a provincial agreement.
• OutLook OnLine - providing Internet access to the holdings of public and academic libraries.
• Youth@BC - ensuring young British Columbians have access to Internet training.
• Communities Connect - grants to develop electronic content for the Internet.
• Summer Reading Club - developing and maintaining reading skills for children.
• Secondment Program - providing expertise to libraries in remote areas.
• Writers in Libraries - promoting B.C.'s authors and publishing industry.
• Community Libraries Course - developing skilled staff for the province's libraries.
• British Columbia Library Foundation - helping to ensure a strong future for B.C. libraries.
• Government Depository - providing access to government information.

These initiatives and projects dramatically demonstrate that a strong partnership between government, public libraries and library associations results in low cost, high impact services that provide significant benefit to all British Columbians.

Library Resources And Funding Are Stretched To The Limit And In Some Instances Are Threatened

While demand for library services has increased, funding at both provincial and municipal levels has not increased at a corresponding rate:

• library usage is at an all-time high. Continued population growth and demand for increasingly sophisticated services have placed public library budgets under increasing pressure. Operating grants need to increase proportionately to keep pace.

• reductions in transfer payments to municipalities have resulted in decreased funding to libraries in many municipalities.
• strained municipal budgets jeopardize free access to libraries and the suggestion of user fees is being raised.
• increases in per capita grants proportionate to increases in service are required in order for libraries to continue to effectively serve their communities.

In response to the funding challenge, libraries are working smarter than ever, using new and developing technologies to their advantage, forging a wide range of partnerships, and developing alternative sources of income. Libraries have acted proactively to the challenge of "do more with less". The time has now come to do more with more.

To Ensure A Strong Future For Public Libraries Further Ministry Support Is Required

The Associations recognize that limited new money will be available from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs for support of libraries over the next few years. Yet the fact remains that strong public libraries are vital to British Columbians, and the provincial government has a responsibility to maintain and support this critical provincial resource. Clearly, creative new ways must be found to provide libraries with the increased funding and resources they require. The Associations strongly believe that there is a shared responsibility to do this, and it must be done by working in tandem with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and the Library Services Branch.

Past success is the key to our future success. The provincial government, through the Library Services Branch, has excelled in developing well focused programs that have proven to be a catalyst in further developing province wide library resources. Earlier in this paper we have described a number of such programs including: Outlook Online, Summer Reading Club, Communities Connect, and Youth@B.C. Many of these programs have involved other departments of government and drawn funding from a variety of sources which has added to their strength and effectiveness. Given that the Library Services Branch has limited staff resources, and that the role of government is more appropriately one of creation and development rather than implementation, administration of these programs has been passed on to the British Columbia Library Association which has provided highly professional but low cost project management.

The Associations believe that this is the model for the future. The model needs to be extended to include other relevant provincial ministries, other levels of government and the private sector:

• the ministries responsible for education, training, health, and business can all benefit from stronger ties with public libraries. Programs specifically designed to meet their needs and goals, and funded by them, can be carried out by public libraries at low cost, benefiting both the individual ministry as well as public libraries. The major beneficiary is the public who are provided with highly relevant programs and information in their home community.
  
• considerable funding is available through Industry Canada and its UrbanCAP and Smart Communities programs, but it requires provincial support and agreements to take full advantage of these opportunities.

• the private sector has a great deal of support to offer public libraries, as the Youth and the Internet programs have demonstrated. A planned strategy to tap into this resource is required in order to maximize the benefits to both libraries and the corporations.

Within this model the Associations recognize an increased role for them to actively solicit and foster other sources of funding and resources and to administer those resources when found. To do this the Associations request assistance from the Ministry:

• increased funding to the Associations to enable them to take on these additional responsibilities in an effective manner.

• the Minister and her staff to provide introductions and initial support for the development of new relationships and partnerships throughout the government and private sector.

The Associations believe there is both an unprecedented demand and opportunity for public libraries to further extend the benefits they provide to British Columbians. To do so requires additional funding and resources that must be developed through seeking new and creative alliances within the provincial government, other levels of government and the private sector. Both the Ministry and the Associations have complementary lead roles in accomplishing this. Under the leadership of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, British Columbia has the potential to develop a whole new model of library support and growth that will position British Columbia public libraries for the 21st century.