One of BCLA’s priorities is to advocate for public libraries with the BC Government, and we do that by working with ABCPLD, BCLTA, and the BC Libraries Coop as the BC Public Library Partners. On behalf of the BCLA Board and the BCPLP, I’m so pleased to share the following announcement…
In response to BC Public Library Partners’ (BCPLP) continued advocacy efforts, the BC Provincial Government, through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, has provided an investment of $8 million to public libraries in order to support Covid recovery and relief efforts. These one-time funds have been distributed to libraries and related organizations already, and will be used to best meet the needs of individual libraries and their communities.
$4 million of these funds have been distributed directly to libraries to support recovery. An additional $2.5 million has been allocated through the BC Libraries Cooperative to support electronic resource licensing, including online common collections for all BC public libraries. The remaining $1.5 million will be devoted to high priority activities including accessibility, emergency planning and preparedness, technology infrastructure, library board governance, and more.
The BCPLP would like to thank the province of British Columbia and the Ministers responsible for public libraries – most recently Minister Nathan Cullen, Minister Josie Osborne and Minister Rob Fleming – for supporting the work of libraries, hearing our concerns and the needs of the sector, and shedding light on the important roles that libraries play in communities across the province.
This positive outcome is the direct result of several years of advocacy by the BCPLP as well as public libraries, library trustees and boards, patrons, community members, and supportive groups and organizations. This is not the end of the Partners’ 2022 advocacy efforts; it’s the beginning. We’re looking forward to building on this momentum, nurturing a strong relationship with Minister Nathan Cullen, the new Minister of Municipal Affairs, and continuing to emphasize the need for a permanent, sustained increase to provincial funding for BC Public Libraries.
Thank you for your continued support, your stories, and your diligent work on behalf of communities across the province. Your work makes our advocacy possible.
With hope for a bright future,
The BC Public Library Partners
Association of BC Public Library Directors (ABCPLD)
BC Library Association (BCLA)
BC Libraries Cooperative (BCLC)
BC Library Trustees Association (BCLTA)