Library Funding

Whereas libraries are a social justice equalizer that provide universal access to information and learning materials irrespective of income levels; And whereas restoring funding to libraries supports the BC Governments agenda to eliminate poverty and address social justice in BC; And whereas funding rates have been frozen since 2009 and inflationary costs have increasingly been put on municipal property tax payers which is a regressive approach to funding public libraries; And whereas libraries now provide a huge diversity of services and resources beyond books, requiring additional funding to be innovative and relevant; And whereas a progressive form of financing for public libraries is needed: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM be requested to advocate for the restoration of library funding to a level that reflects both inflationary cost increases since 2009 and the value of the system to the Province.