Library board bracing for a cut in funding

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 03, 2009 6:00 PM

Funding cuts could force libraries to make some tough decisions.Okanagan Regional Library is anticipating a provincial reduction in grants of about 22 per cent, or $250,000, this coming year.“Our board will have to consider everything carefully,” said Lesley Dieno, ORL’s longtime executive director.The $1 million basic operating grant from the provincial government has been protected, but a reduction in funds is projected for writers’ visits, inter-library loans, technology acquisitions and literacy programs like the popular Summer Reading Club.That doesn’t necessarily mean the programs will be eliminated but they may be scaled back.

“For many of these things, we will be providing the basic service,” said Dieno.There is also a concern that assistance for database initiatives and the OneCard program could be at risk.Preparations for ORL’s 2010 budget will begin right away and the board will approve the document in November.With local property owners generating the large majority of ORL’s revenue, one option could be increasing taxes to make up the lost provincial grants.“It could be done but people wouldn’t like to see huge increases for the library,” said Dieno.“Because our board are all elected officials, they have to be careful and look at all of the options before them.”

One consideration that Dieno is reluctant to talk about is terminating staff at ORL’s 29 branches in the Okanagan, Shuswap, Columbia and Similkameen valleys.“We will do our darnedest not to lay people off because that would make things worse,” she said of providing services.“But at this point, we don’t know everything from the province yet.”