Cuts to Richmond Public Library’s 2016 budget have resulted in numerous complaints from the public, concerning matters such as reduced hours, increased fines and cut services, according to a staff report presented to city council’s finance committee Monday.
Chief librarian Greg Buss noted rising library operating costs — a bone of contention among many on council — are due to keeping paperback collections in tact while simultaneously expanding its digital materials.
“The pressure is to do two things as well as we can, and perhaps we don’t do either as well as the public expects,” said Buss.
Digital borrowing doesn’t result in library fines, a key revenue source for libraries in the past. Overall revenues are projected to be down by 7.5 per cent in 2017. Meanwhile, the costs of entering the digital age (ebooks) are adding pressure to the budget.
In 2011 the City of Richmond contributed $7.7 million to libraries, while in 2017 it is expected to contribute $9 million.
And yet, among Metro Vancouver municipalities, Richmond actually funds its libraries below the regional average of $53.63 per capita, with just $41.26 in likewise spending (notably, Richmond provides the least amount of floor space per capita).
According to the report, Richmond has the highest physical and online visits per capita to its branches and website, respectively.
In the report, Richmond’s financial planners have effectively given councillors two options: accept the rising costs or make more cuts.
“An increase in the municipal contribution would still place Richmond well below the average municipal support per capita,” added Buss.
Coun. Alexa Loo said if the city is to keep its taxes relatively low, people can expect lower levels of service.
“I think we need to take a long look at this,” said Loo, who agreed to the cuts last year.
Coun. Bill McNulty and Linda McPhail voted against the library cuts. McNulty, who also voted against tax hikes in the last budget, said Monday that the city ought to up its per capita funding by one dollar.
Coun. Carol Day voted for the cuts last year, likening it a pencil sharpening exercise. On Monday she told the committee “the (cut) hours have really affected people.”
Mayor Malcolm Brodie once again questioned the borrowing limits Buss has set for library patrons.
Last summer the library issued 20 “actions” to reduce costs and increase revenues at the request of council.
Higher late fees, more stringent borrowing limits, decreased janitorial services, developing corporate sponsorship and asking the public to volunteer at the library are some of the ideas Buss came up with (noting its union has expressed “concerns”).
As a result of the changes, an email survey conducted by the library found about 80 per cent of the comments received were negative.
Many railed against cut hours at Cambie, Ironwood and Steveston branches.
