Presentation Overview

Provincial responsibilities for public library service

Structure and funding of local library service in Ontario

Ontario public library service by the #s

Ontario public libraries: library activity:2006)

Overview of Ontario provincial funding: 2007-08

Funding for Ontario public libraries: provincial vs municipal

How do we compare with other provinces and states?

Major funding issues

Recommendations

Impact of current economy

For further information

Provincial Responsibility

Ministry of Culture supports province wide library systemto enhance

equitable access to public library and information services

Ministry administers the Public Libraries Act(PLA) which provides for a

grant program to public libraries and public library agencies inOntario

PLA requires Ministry to provide annual grantsfor library purposes to

libraries and organizations that contract for library services

PLA mandates and funds two library service agencies(OLS) to increase

cooperation and coordination among libraries and to provide services

and programs to support those libraries

TorontoPublic Library is special service boardwhich receives funds to provide a number of province-wide services to the Ontario Library community on an ongoing basis

Structure and Funding of Local Libraries

Municipal library boards established by municipal bylaw as corporations

under the PLA

First Nations public libraries established under the PLA by local band

Majority of funding for public libraries comes from municipalities; in

Ontario’s smallest municipalities, provincial funding comprises a higher

proportion of total library revenue than in larger centres.

For libraries serving more than 250K, provincial contributions are

between 3% and 4% with municipal contributions approximately 89%

For smaller libraries the diversity of funding structures is more varied;

some receive 3-4% from the province; most receive more than this e.g.

between 4% and 19%

In general, the smaller the library, the larger the provincial contribution and the more services received from the provincial library agencies (OLSs).

Structure and Funding of Local Libraries (2)

What’s special and challenging about Ontario provincial funding model for public libraries?

Lowest provincial per capita funding for operating grants in Canada

Ontario municipality 86% but varies widely

Provincial share has decreased from average of 15% to 4% from 1986 to 2005

Formerly based on per household but this is meaningless now due to population changes

No increases since 1995; amount decreased 40% in 1996 and 1997

Ontario Library Service agencies almost totally provincially funded (no ongoing municipal contribution required for service to local libraries)

No system of co-funded regional libraries; some county libraries

No province-wide library card

Ontario Libraries by the Numbers*

Ontario provincial population 12, 160,282

Population served by libraries11,668,739

Number of provincial library service boards2

Total number of library service points 1,092

Total number of local library boards265

Under 5000133

5001-15,00071

15,001-30,00029

50,001-100,00016

100,001-250,00016

250,000-2.4 million5

2.5 Million (Toronto)1

* Source 2006 Ontario Public Library Statistics

Ontario Libraries by the Numbers (2)

population served by 6 largest library systems

over 250,000 = 5,288,231

% population served by 6 library systems over 250,000 =45.31 %

Population in communities over 100,00082%

Population new Canadians28%

Population Aboriginal2%

Population seniors25%

Ontario Library Activity 2006

Ontario Library Activity 2006 (2)

Total circulating volumes held 33. 4 M ↑*

Total circ/ref titles held 20.3 M ↑

Total paid staff 7,122 ↑

Total volunteers as FTEs 518 ↑

Total volunteers 13, 223 ↑

* indicates trend direction from 2005

Provincial Funding

Overview 2007-08

Provincial Funding (2)

Overview 2007-08

One-time 4thquarter investment funding

Investment to OLS to expand equitable

access to information$ 15.0 M

Knowledge Ontario to renew database licenses 5.0 M

Toronto Reference Library capital grant 10.0M

Summary:

Regular annual funding 28.6 M

One-time investment funding 25.0 M

Total $ 58.6 M

Funding Picture

(Source: 2006 provincial statistics)

How does Ontario compare?

Provincial/State funding share for local library operations:

Canada

Alberta15.3 %

British Columbia8.0 %

Ontario 4.0 %

Ottawa Public Library3.6%

Manitoba 18.4%

Saskatchewan 17.0%

Quebec10.6%

Nova Scotia20.6% (Halifax only)

Outside of Halifax 71.0%

USA

North Carolina7.0%

Ohio70.0 %

Pennsylvania22.6 %

Major Funding Issues

Provincial operating grants were reduced by 40%in

1996 and 1997.

Provincial operating grants have not been increased or adjusted for population changes or inflation since 1995

Provincial government’s share of operating funding is decreasing

Provincial government is downloading more and more of the operating costs of public libraries to the local level of government

Project funding has been diminished and has been designed more for smaller libraries

Major funding Issues (2)

Larger libraries are not eligible for the Trillium Foundation grant program

Aging library infrastructure:

Library capital program has been eliminated

There are at least 110 known Ontario public library building capital infrastructure projects in the planning stages with a known cost of at least $570 M

Lack of funding from federal government for public library infrastructure

Insufficient funding for provincially legislated pay equity

2007-08 library sector investment is very welcome, BUT is one time funding

First Nations public libraries are severely under-funded and there is no sustained program for urban Aboriginal strategies or services

Major funding Issues (3)

No sustained program of support for libraries serving bilingual populations (Eng/Fr) in provincially designated areas

All libraries must implement the AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act); support will be required for facilities, signage, equipment, materials etc

Other new, emerging or expanding public library service pressures include: public internet access, early and family literacy, access to government electronic information; digitization and digital collections

World wide economic recession means fewer dollars; more library business

Impact on Large Urban Libraries

e.g. Ottawa Public Library

YearPopulationPer Capita Provincial Grant

1995 321,789$3.42

2001 791,000$1.75 ↓

2008 888,853$1.55↓

2006 average Ontario provincial per capita operating funding = $1.90

Recommendations

Strengthenedand more equitableoperating grants for all public libraries

Addressing population increases and inflation over last 14 years

Providing special support for small, rural and remote/northern libraries and communities who have lost population in last 10 years

Recognizing the increasing urbanization of the Ontario population

Provincial share should be at least 15% for every public library

Library capitalfunding program and/or public libraries to be clearly included in provincial and federal infrastructure funding programs e.g Building Canada Infrastructure and OSIFA (Ontario Strategic Infrastructure Funding Authority) and any new economic stimulus funding

Recommendations (2)

Maintain and/or increase sustained targetedfunding for:

First Nations and urban Aboriginal library services

Bilingual service in both official languages

Ontario Library Services

Knowledge Ontario

Innovative project funding

Legislated requirements such as pay equity and AODA implementation

Recommendations (3)

All public libraries must be eligible for Trillium

Foundation funding

Province to:

focus on support for, and creation of, larger units

of service to help smaller libraries develop more

capacity to serve

Act as advocate for public library sector with other

provincial ministries and Provincial Cabinet

Act as advocate for public library sector with Federal Government in areas of multiple jurisdiction: Aboriginals, newcomers, literacy

Recommendations (4)

OLA and FOPL should mount sustained advocacyand marketingawareness program

OLA and FOPL should work with CLA and CULCon federal funding and program advocacy for public libraries

All public library boards must take advocacy seriouslyand begin by training trustees, staff and volunteers and……

Develop an ongoing advocacy strategyfor their local council, provincial MPPs and Federal MPs as well as the appropriate appointed officials

The Current Economy

Municipal funding levels for library service are under pressure

Creating significant pressures on library service levels

FOPL developing provincial advocacy plan

Individual libraries and Friends doing more local, provincial and federal advocacy

Provincial government beginning to upload some costs previously downloaded to municipalities (e.g. social services)

For more information:

Barbara Clubb, City Librarian

Ottawa Public Library/Bibliothèque publique d’Ottawa

barbara.clubb@biblioottawalibrary.ca

613-580-2424 x32180

www.biblioottawalibrary.ca

Never forget that

Your library card:

is the best bargain in town.