Potential Regional Library Service

Background Information – December 2009

The Good News

Local residents value their Library. We know this because the Library is experiencing a huge increase in the number of people using it. To date this year, circulation of materials is up 18% over last year (which was up 16% over the previous year) and the number of people entering the facility is up 26%.  

The Not-So-Good News

The current level of service is not sustainable. In short, the Library serves a larger number of people than those who provide meaningful financial support for its operations. This reality needs to be addressed.

Residents of Regional District Areas E (Harrop-Proctor/Blewett), F (North Shore/Taghum/Bonnington) and H (Slocan Valley) do not contribute to the library through taxation. The Library has been offering these residents membership through an annual fee in order to support access to the facility and its many services; the relatively low cost of the membership fees can not be continued. Additionally, people can and do use the facility without taking out a membership.

The Opportunity

Residents of Areas E, F and H are invited to participate in a discussion on potential changes to library services to address not only current but also future needs. For example, a pilot project in the Slocan Valley has involved Library staff taking books to Winlaw School so area residents do not have to travel to Nelson to check out and return books.  For more information on the pilot project, please see Slocan Valley Library Service.

Step 1 - Completed January 2010

The Library is reaching out to a cross-section of people in the outlying communities in order to better understand the need for library services as well as what questions people may have about a regional library service. This will enable the Library to provide good information so residents can help define realistic options and make informed decisions on future library services.

Step 2 - In Process February 2010

The Library will widely distribute both the questions and responses. We will then meet informally with some of the existing community groups to begin exploring options for meeting the needs of the outlying communities. While the Library will share some ideas based on the Slocan Valley pilot project and lessons learned from other libraries, this is also an opportunity to get ideas from local residents.

Click on the links below to view the information gathered through the first two steps:

• Overview of Initial Community Consultation
• Community Needs - Fact Sheet #1
• Library Services - Fact Sheet #2
• Costs of Regional Library Service - Fact Sheet #3
• Methods of Paying - Fact Sheet #4

Step 3 - Anticipated for early Spring 2010

The Library will host public meetings that will be well advertised. During the meetings, we will explore the options, including the potential costs and benefits. Area residents will be invited to provide their input on the various options.

Step 4

Depending on the nature of the ideas that come forward, the Library Board of Directors may make some changes to how the Library operates and/or the Regional District Directors may hold a referendum if changes to taxation are to be considered.

For more information or to find out how you can help

please contact Cathy Scott-May, Consultant,

at cscottmay @ netidea.com or 250.359.7831.