The Library Boards Association of Nova Scotia’s website is an important tool to help the association lobby for more money for the province’s public libraries, Eric Stackhouse says.
“We need to get the word out that libraries are valued in the community and merit more money to provide the services people who use our libraries want,” said Stackhouse, chief librarian for the Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library (PARL). “We want people to read and read often, so this is a chance to let people know about our situation.”
The association has launched its new website standupforlibraries.ca to inform the more than 300,000 Nova Scotians who regularly use public libraries throughout the province regarding issues surrounding the service.They include underfunding for general operations and for books.
“Public libraries in this province loan more than seven million books and other materials each year, but users really don’t know how they are funded, how they operate, and the issues they face,” said LBANS president Mary MacLellan of Antigonish, who also chairs the PARL board. “The website is a first step in changing that.”
The LBANS advocates on behalf of regional public library boards and is asking users of public libraries to show their support by learning more about the issues and letting their political representatives know they value the service. The site summarizes what libraries do for lifelong education and self improvement and how they make communities better places to live and work.
MacLellan said most people are not even aware that the Province of Nova Scotia requested a report be prepared by a task force on how to fairly fund public libraries. It can be accessed at www.standupforlibraries.ca.
Education Minister Marilyn Moore released the report in October, more than a year after it was completed in August 2008.
“A tremendous amount of work was done on that report,” MacLellan said. “Realistic recommendations were made that affect every library user. Now we are waiting to see if anything will come of it. The public should know what is in that report and it’s our responsibility to let them know.”
Stackhouse said libraries are counting on the province to apply the report’s recommendations.
They include indexing the funding increases for library staff at the same level as civil servants and tripling the spending on new books.
“The report recognizes an international standard of how many new books libraries should have, and Nova Scotia is way behind.” Stackhouse said. “That’s why Nova Scotia would have to triple the book budget.”
The report also recommends seed grants for youth employment and new technology in a three-year agreement that would cost nearly $6 million.
“We hope the government will support the funding task force,” he said. “The immediate impact for us would be the ability to purchase new books so users would have a wider selection.”