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Notes for a library motion
07 November 2005
Notes about the Library funding motion, to be read Nov. 7. 2005:
Let me preface my comments with a quote by Carl Sagan from Cosmos:
The need for a library expansion has been well demonstrated. The library is already the most heavily-used facility in this town, and it will only become busier as we grow. The last expansion was done in 1986, intended to serve the needs of the community for the next 15 years before its full capacity was reached. That capacity was reached five years ago. Now we are considerably past it.
The number of users is growing steadily: the library has almost 11,000 active card-holding members, plus many frequent users who are not members. In 2004, these people made more than 172,000 visits to the library and to date the figures suggest that number will be more than 187,000 this year. This demonstrates the increase in use the library has enjoyed.
We all know there are 5,500 residential units approved for construction in this town, with many hundreds more in the planning stage. These will increase the population from 50 to 75 percent. The current library simply cannot accommodate this growth.
It has been said a library is the heart of a community. If that’s so, our library is on the verge of a heart attack.
Even by the most conservative estimates of ½ sq. ft. per capita, the library has reached its full capacity. If you use the most stringent recommendation of 1 sq. ft. per capita. We have half the space required for a community our size.
The library is changing and with it the demands on certain spaces within the library is changing. Computer and Internet use are growing for example, but they require more space for users than shelving books.
Without an expansion, the library will be faced with difficult choices as to which programs or services will have to suffer or be sacrificed to meet these changing needs.
Without adequate space for programs, we will disadvantage many people who use and need the library and its resources.
Young families, for example, depend on the library for a variety of children’s programs and camps every year. In 2004 there were 1,247 local kids enrolled in those programs. This year there were almost 1,500. That’s 1,500 local children who came into the library to learn, to read, to expand their minds and their horizons.
In 2004, 560 people visited the local history and genealogy room. To date the library is on track to log more than 600 this year, all eager to learn about our community’s history and heritage.
This year the library has hosted 252 different programs over 122 days. Some of those days included literacy programs to help local people overcome reading disabilities.
The need for computer access in schools, business and home is increasing. Many youngsters and low-income families that can’t afford a computer or Internet access depend on the library for what has become an essential service in today’s world.
In 2004, the library logged 11,851 computer sessions. At the end of October this year, that number was 15,813 – already up 3,962 users in only ten months.
The same is true of the library’s collection of music and movies: it provides a free or low-cost alternative for families who may not be able to afford to always buy or rent their own.
The library’s book collection is a source of education, information, and entertainment. But the current space does not allow any more room to expand that collection to meet the increase in publications available, to improve the collection with new titles, let alone meet the growing demand for books from our users.
Many service clubs, non-profit groups, local clubs, associations and individuals use the library’s space for meetings, events and educational sessions. In 2004, 363 events were booked in the library. To date this year, 371 have already been held.
These community groups and individuals depend on this space. They need a central, accessible and inexpensive location. But they are all competing against each other for the rooms, and competing against other demands for the limited space available.
The architects rightly called the library the “community living room.” But the function of the library as an essential communal social space is under stress from overcrowding.
The library provides a crucial need in the cultural community as the only public gallery space in town. Literally hundreds of local artists, sculptors, photographers, craftspeople and even musicians depend on the library for exhibition and display space. The gallery was booked for shows 308 days in 2004, or six days out of every week. But that space is under increasing pressure from other services and needs, including its use as a meeting room.
The cultural life of this town is essential to our health and well-being, and to our sense of community. Sustainability is not merely about infrastructure, it is about community and its culture. The library as it is now is not sustainable.
If we expect to be able to attract an institute of higher learning to this town, perhaps a college or university campus, the library is one of the first places they will look to measure our worth. Right now the library could not accommodate the demands placed on it by students at a new educational institution.
The demographics of Collingwood are changing and becoming greyer. And it is precisely this aging population that puts more demands on a library. Consider the large print section for seniors, the book tapes for people with visual impairment, and the books on wheels program for shut-ins. Without expansion we will disadvantage this growing segment of our population because the library will not be able to meet their needs.
The expansion will cost $3.6 million. Most of this will have to be paid for from a municipal debenture. The library has few sources of revenue available to it and is constrained by legislation on what services it can offer for a fee. We cannot wait until the possibility of a grant or government funding because we have no surety either will be forthcoming. This is our responsibility, not that of another level of government.
All fundraising, any philanthropic largesse or any possible grants will be pursued, and those moneys will be applied to this debt. But the municipality has to make the commitment first.
Council is always in a balancing act between financial responsibility and community needs. I believe the need for the library expansion has been proven, and that this commitment to funding is money well spent.
This expansion will serve the library for between 15 and 20 years, depending on how quickly this community grows.
Based on figures supplied by our treasurer, this expansion will cost the average taxpayer just over $35 a year. To put that in perspective that’s the cost of one large coffee and a muffin a month. It’s equivalent to two inexpensive bottles of wine, or one medium-priced bottle. It’s about the cost of two DVDs – but not even two new releases. It’s about half the cost of a new computer game. Surely our library is worth that much!
Council cannot, in good conscience and in good faith to the people of this community, ignore our need for an expanded library any longer. We need this expansion and it cannot wait. It is this council’s responsibility to see that it happens.
I will end with this quote from Walter Cronkite:
Here is the motion to be presented Nov. 7:
WHEREAS Council recognizes the services, programs, support, literacy and cultural amenities the Library provides are necessary services for the general well being of the community;
AND WHEREAS the Canadian Library Standard recommends up to 1 square foot per capita for efficient and effective library service;
AND WHEREAS the Collingwood Public Library reached its full capacity for the population and user base in 2001 at 10,500 square feet;
AND WHEREAS the Collingwood Public Library currently has 10,922 active card-holding members, had more than 172,000 visits and had 363 active programs running in 2004;
AND WHEREAS these numbers are increasing every year, and the demands on and usage of the Collingwood Public Library are growing as the population of the community grows, and this demand requires more space in the library for inventory, workrooms, services and programs;
AND WHEREAS the Collingwood Public Library has not had that opportunity or funding to expand or obtain a larger facility despite its evident need;
AND WHEREAS the Collingwood Public Library continues to be the most heavily used facility in the community;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED That Council of the Corporation of the Town of Collingwood hereby commits $3.6 million of the 2006 Municipal Budget for the Library expansion project in 2006.
PS: The vote passed 6-3. In favour: Mayor Geddes, Deputy-Mayor Cooper, Councillors Lloyd, Sandberg, Gill and Chadwick. Opposed: Councillors Carrier, Jeffrey and Edwards.
A story ran on CTY, Nov. 10 that
12 million Canadians struggle with basic literacy. I believe this underscores the need for the expanded library and its programs.
Let me preface my comments with a quote by Carl Sagan from Cosmos:
Quote
“I think the health of our civilization, the depth of our awareness about the underpinnings of our culture and our concern for the future can all be tested by how well we support our libraries”
The need for a library expansion has been well demonstrated. The library is already the most heavily-used facility in this town, and it will only become busier as we grow. The last expansion was done in 1986, intended to serve the needs of the community for the next 15 years before its full capacity was reached. That capacity was reached five years ago. Now we are considerably past it.
The number of users is growing steadily: the library has almost 11,000 active card-holding members, plus many frequent users who are not members. In 2004, these people made more than 172,000 visits to the library and to date the figures suggest that number will be more than 187,000 this year. This demonstrates the increase in use the library has enjoyed.
We all know there are 5,500 residential units approved for construction in this town, with many hundreds more in the planning stage. These will increase the population from 50 to 75 percent. The current library simply cannot accommodate this growth.
It has been said a library is the heart of a community. If that’s so, our library is on the verge of a heart attack.
Even by the most conservative estimates of ½ sq. ft. per capita, the library has reached its full capacity. If you use the most stringent recommendation of 1 sq. ft. per capita. We have half the space required for a community our size.
The library is changing and with it the demands on certain spaces within the library is changing. Computer and Internet use are growing for example, but they require more space for users than shelving books.
Without an expansion, the library will be faced with difficult choices as to which programs or services will have to suffer or be sacrificed to meet these changing needs.
Without adequate space for programs, we will disadvantage many people who use and need the library and its resources.
Young families, for example, depend on the library for a variety of children’s programs and camps every year. In 2004 there were 1,247 local kids enrolled in those programs. This year there were almost 1,500. That’s 1,500 local children who came into the library to learn, to read, to expand their minds and their horizons.
In 2004, 560 people visited the local history and genealogy room. To date the library is on track to log more than 600 this year, all eager to learn about our community’s history and heritage.
This year the library has hosted 252 different programs over 122 days. Some of those days included literacy programs to help local people overcome reading disabilities.
The need for computer access in schools, business and home is increasing. Many youngsters and low-income families that can’t afford a computer or Internet access depend on the library for what has become an essential service in today’s world.
In 2004, the library logged 11,851 computer sessions. At the end of October this year, that number was 15,813 – already up 3,962 users in only ten months.
The same is true of the library’s collection of music and movies: it provides a free or low-cost alternative for families who may not be able to afford to always buy or rent their own.
The library’s book collection is a source of education, information, and entertainment. But the current space does not allow any more room to expand that collection to meet the increase in publications available, to improve the collection with new titles, let alone meet the growing demand for books from our users.
Many service clubs, non-profit groups, local clubs, associations and individuals use the library’s space for meetings, events and educational sessions. In 2004, 363 events were booked in the library. To date this year, 371 have already been held.
These community groups and individuals depend on this space. They need a central, accessible and inexpensive location. But they are all competing against each other for the rooms, and competing against other demands for the limited space available.
The architects rightly called the library the “community living room.” But the function of the library as an essential communal social space is under stress from overcrowding.
The library provides a crucial need in the cultural community as the only public gallery space in town. Literally hundreds of local artists, sculptors, photographers, craftspeople and even musicians depend on the library for exhibition and display space. The gallery was booked for shows 308 days in 2004, or six days out of every week. But that space is under increasing pressure from other services and needs, including its use as a meeting room.
The cultural life of this town is essential to our health and well-being, and to our sense of community. Sustainability is not merely about infrastructure, it is about community and its culture. The library as it is now is not sustainable.
If we expect to be able to attract an institute of higher learning to this town, perhaps a college or university campus, the library is one of the first places they will look to measure our worth. Right now the library could not accommodate the demands placed on it by students at a new educational institution.
The demographics of Collingwood are changing and becoming greyer. And it is precisely this aging population that puts more demands on a library. Consider the large print section for seniors, the book tapes for people with visual impairment, and the books on wheels program for shut-ins. Without expansion we will disadvantage this growing segment of our population because the library will not be able to meet their needs.
The expansion will cost $3.6 million. Most of this will have to be paid for from a municipal debenture. The library has few sources of revenue available to it and is constrained by legislation on what services it can offer for a fee. We cannot wait until the possibility of a grant or government funding because we have no surety either will be forthcoming. This is our responsibility, not that of another level of government.
All fundraising, any philanthropic largesse or any possible grants will be pursued, and those moneys will be applied to this debt. But the municipality has to make the commitment first.
Council is always in a balancing act between financial responsibility and community needs. I believe the need for the library expansion has been proven, and that this commitment to funding is money well spent.
This expansion will serve the library for between 15 and 20 years, depending on how quickly this community grows.
Based on figures supplied by our treasurer, this expansion will cost the average taxpayer just over $35 a year. To put that in perspective that’s the cost of one large coffee and a muffin a month. It’s equivalent to two inexpensive bottles of wine, or one medium-priced bottle. It’s about the cost of two DVDs – but not even two new releases. It’s about half the cost of a new computer game. Surely our library is worth that much!
Council cannot, in good conscience and in good faith to the people of this community, ignore our need for an expanded library any longer. We need this expansion and it cannot wait. It is this council’s responsibility to see that it happens.
I will end with this quote from Walter Cronkite:
Quote
“Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.”
Here is the motion to be presented Nov. 7:
WHEREAS Council recognizes the services, programs, support, literacy and cultural amenities the Library provides are necessary services for the general well being of the community;
AND WHEREAS the Canadian Library Standard recommends up to 1 square foot per capita for efficient and effective library service;
AND WHEREAS the Collingwood Public Library reached its full capacity for the population and user base in 2001 at 10,500 square feet;
AND WHEREAS the Collingwood Public Library currently has 10,922 active card-holding members, had more than 172,000 visits and had 363 active programs running in 2004;
AND WHEREAS these numbers are increasing every year, and the demands on and usage of the Collingwood Public Library are growing as the population of the community grows, and this demand requires more space in the library for inventory, workrooms, services and programs;
AND WHEREAS the Collingwood Public Library has not had that opportunity or funding to expand or obtain a larger facility despite its evident need;
AND WHEREAS the Collingwood Public Library continues to be the most heavily used facility in the community;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED That Council of the Corporation of the Town of Collingwood hereby commits $3.6 million of the 2006 Municipal Budget for the Library expansion project in 2006.
PS: The vote passed 6-3. In favour: Mayor Geddes, Deputy-Mayor Cooper, Councillors Lloyd, Sandberg, Gill and Chadwick. Opposed: Councillors Carrier, Jeffrey and Edwards.
A story ran on CTY, Nov. 10 that
12 million Canadians struggle with basic literacy. I believe this underscores the need for the expanded library and its programs.
