WHEREAS the Ministry of Education in its 200506 fiscal year began the implementation of its strategic plan for public libraries Libraries without Walls, by providing new direct and indirect funding programs exceeding 6 million to the benefit of BCs public libraries; AND WHEREAS these new funds have increased the benefits derived from local public library expenditures and enhanced library collaboration province-wide: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities thank the Minister of Education for the significant increase in financial support for BCs public libraries and encourage the Minister to enhance this support in future years.
Ministry of Education The Ministry of Education Ministry, through the Public Library Services Branch, provides support and leadership to public libraries. The Strategic Plan for Public Libraries, Libraries Without Walls: The World Within Your Reach, was created at the request of Premier Gordon Campbell and is the result of extensive consultation with public libraries in the Province of British Columbia Province. The implementation of the Strategic Plan has provided additional funding and program support to public libraries to enable them to improve and expand their services, and to assist them in their role as literacy partners. Other Strategic Plan programs, such as the province-wide Virtual Reference service, implementation of BC OneCard, support for library federations, consortial integrated library systems and the core suite of licensed electronic databases purchased by the Province for all public libraries, will allow libraries to expand their traditional services using new technology. The Ministry acknowledges that these province-wide strategic initiatives require ongoing support and commends the investment in staff development and resources made by the library community through their municipal funding.