Libraries are typically known to be quiet places. But when the provincial government introduced its budget last month, libraries across the province were more silent than ever as staff held their breath expecting the worst.
Despite petitions sent by libraries across the province, a 22 per cent cut was made to provincial library funding. Though smaller libraries like Invermere were affected least, the long-term implications are what worry some.
“We were quite frightened when we heard that the funding was going to be cut,” said Liz Robinson who admitted that the larger libraries in the province will be taking most of the cuts so that smaller ones will not have to.
She added, “We’re concerned that next year the funds will be cut again and if they don’t restore the funding then the libraries can’t continue with their mandate to have all of these services for people.”
“We really count on the funds that we get. Three hundred dollars doesn’t look like a huge cut but we would have been able to do something great with it,” said Robinson.
What is more, programs that have applied to libraries in the entire province have been discontinued. These include the AskAway program, a service that allows library users to contact library staff over the Internet; Books for Babies, a program that provides new books for newborns; online databases and Writers in Libraries.
Another area that has taken a substantial cut is the B.C. Libraries Trustees’ Association, a group that has historically lobbied for much of the funding libraries get today.
“There’s something about immersing yourself in a book that is just so fantastic, and a lot of the time librarians and post office workers are who everyone knows and it’s where people in communities come together,” said MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke and former teacher Norm Macdonald.
He went on to say that in his experience, the students who are exposed to books at an early age are the ones who succeed later in life, a sentiment that Robinson agreed with.
When asked about the cuts, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Education said that many cuts this year have been due to the economy.
“We’re maintaining and protecting the core operating funds for the B.C. libraries,” he said and added that the total funding would be in excess of those core funds and that the government was making a concerted effort to support smaller libraries, especially those with a small population base.
Also commented on was the fact that the provincial support for libraries is being cut from nine down to seven per cent and the rest comes from other sources like municipalities.
But in Invermere, that comes as little comfort as the district provides only a fraction of what some other municipalities.
However, Invermere mayor Gerry Taft said that this is slowly changing. According to Taft, the district has made an effort to increase funding by around $5,000 yearly in order to make up for this difference and said with increased programs he hopes the future will bring demand for expanded facilities.