By Sheldon Spackman

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Red Deer Public Library pleased with provincial funding stability

Nov 12, 2019 | 1:26 PM

Officials with the Red Deer Public Library (RDPL) are pleased to learn the Alberta government is maintaining its funding support for libraries in this year’s budget.

On Friday, the government announced a $37 million investment into Alberta’s public libraries this coming year, the same as in 2018-2019, with $31 million going directly to library boards and another $6 million in network support.

RDPL CEO Shelley Ross says that means about $560,000 in provincial funding for them this year.

“We were given half of our per capita funding earlier in the year, and it’s just been announced we’ll get the other half,” she explains. “As the government is looking hard at all of its programs and services, we were a little anxious. But the government has been very supportive of the importance of public libraries.”

Government officials say the support maintains the highest level of direct funding for library boards in the country, and helps ensure Alberta libraries remain strong community and learning hubs.

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In addition, the funding is also hoped to allow libraries to continue delivering important library services to Albertans, including job-seeking assistance, language-learning, and support for people with print disabilities.

Ross says supporting libraries helps all Albertans.

“Especially in a time of economic instability and a sluggish economy,” exclaims Ross. “Libraries are really important to support job seekers and entrepreneurs and to help people who are doing continuing education as well.”

Government officials note there are 322 libraries across the province, with at least 1.4 million Albertans having a library card.

Ross points out free internet service provided at public libraries is also a vital service.

“That’s a very important resource now-a-days because if you want to apply for a job, or upload your resume, or any of those things, you need the internet,” says Ross. “That’s super important in the smaller communities and directly funded by the Province.”

Despite municipal funding being the primary source of revenue for public libraries, Ross says the provincial grant acknowledges libraries across Alberta honour each other’s patrons.

“So you could walk into Edmonton Public Library, and if you saw a great book, you could borrow it with your Red Deer card,” she explains. “So it kind of acknowledges that libraries are stronger by sharing our collections and sharing our expertise, and letting all Albertans have access to the great resources that they need.”

Ross encourages all Red Deerians to show their support for public libraries by getting a library card.

“We report card holder numbers to the province as every library does, and we also report things like coming to programs and borrowing materials,” she says. “We base our own decisions on, for example, if one part of the city seems to have a lot of users but no library branches, then that might be where we look to expand. So the one thing that anybody can do to show their support for the Province’s continued funding and for the City’s continued funding, is to make sure you have a library card and your family members have library cards and to make sure you know what the library provides and use those services.”