JOHN MOORHOUSE Monday, September 21, 2009 Penticton Herald:
The loss of almost $200,000 in provincial funding has the Okanagan Regional Library board considering layoffs and the possible closure of smaller branches as it struggles with its 2010 budget. However, Lesley Dieno, the regional library‘s executive director and Don Nettleton, its financial manager, told Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen directors that such service cutbacks would be considered the library board‘s last resort. “They‘re going to do their best to make sure that doesn‘t happen, but that‘s one option they have to consider,” said Dieno. The Okanagan Regional Library operates 29 branches from Revelstoke to Princeton. It does not include the Penticton Library which is operated by the city.
Nettleton noted the $200,000 cut represents a 22 per cent reduction in provincial funding Ð roughly equal to two per cent of the library‘s $14.5-million budget. The budget has now been referred to the library‘s finance committee to look for cost savings without reducing services. The budget is scheduled to be adopted in November. Dieno said layoffs and closures don‘t make sense when considering an overall strategic plan. “You tend to find in the long-term that‘s not effective. It‘s a short-term fix, but in the long-term you pay for that,” she said. The idea of branch closures in particular, didn‘t sit well with many RDOS directors. Naramata director Tom Chapman said he‘d hate to see any contraction of the library, especially in tough economic times, noting libraries tend to offset a lot of social dysfunction. Nettleton said while the library board will have to look at all 29 of its branches, he believes it‘s unlikely the board will opt to close one of the smaller branches. Bill Schwarz, who represents the RDOS on the library board, said he‘s confident the budget will include measures the regional district is “comfortable with.”
Meanwhile, the Okanagan Regional Library has made another move towards the construction of a new larger branch in Summerland. Nettleton said the board has agreed to sign a contract with the developer of the Wharton Street redevelopment project. However, exactly when construction will begin remains up in the air. Nettleton said it‘s hoped work will begin in the spring of 2010, but that‘s contingent on economic conditions allowing the project to proceed.
The new 8,000-square-foot branch, to be located on the ground floor of the seven-storey commercial-residential complex, would replace the existing 4,500-square foot facility.
Summerland Mayor Janice Perrino said it‘s now mainly a matter of waiting for the economy to turn around. “The deal is a good one. It‘s just hoping that the market is sufficient so they can get the Wharton Street building starting,” Perrino said
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