Summary of recommendation

Government response

Create an overarching library policy

Recommendation 1
Create an integrated library policy to guide decision-making and strategic planning and investments for libraries.

Accept. The government will involve several ministries (including Municipal Affairs, Service Alberta, Advanced Education and Technology, Education, Culture and Community Spirit, Employment and Immigration, and Aboriginal Relations) in establishing an integrated library policy for all publicly-funded libraries.

Support a strong, province-wide public library service

Recommendation 2
Increase provincial per-capita funding to 2009 levels for municipal library boards and regional library systems.

Accept. Through an amendment to the grant regulation, an increase of $7 million will go to library boards and regional library systems.

Recommendation 3
Tie library funding to conditions established by the Public Library Services branch in Municipal Affairs.

Accept-in-principle. The province will work with libraries to ensure the autonomy of regional and municipal library systems is respected as standards are developed to assess the efficacy of government funding and measure progress towards a seamless, accessible province-wide library system.

Recommendation 4
Acknowledge the significant role municipalities play in funding Alberta’s libraries and encourage municipalities, at a minimum, to maintain current levels of funding.

Accept. The government acknowledges municipalities’ significant contribution to the funding of Alberta’s public libraries.

Recommendation 5
Provide a stronger base level of funding to small municipal libraries (under 3000 people) that are struggling to meet minimum levels of service under current funding requirements.

Accept. More than 140 libraries serving less than 3000 people will share a total of
$1.2 million in operating grants.

Recommendation 6
The Public Library Services branch take a broader leadership role.

Accept. The Public Library Services branch in Municipal Affairs will take more of a leadership role in developing policy and planning for publicly-funded libraries.

Recommendation 7
Enhance the role of The Alberta Library (TAL) and ask it to develop minimum province-wide standards and best practices for library services.

Accept-in-principle. TAL is an autonomous, not-for-profit corporation. Municipal Affairs will initiate discussions with TAL on potential ways for its role to be enhanced or expanded.

Recommendation 8
Enhance the role of regional library systems to increase service and support to the municipal libraries in their regions.

Accept-in-principle. The province’s role would be to facilitate discussions between regional library systems and municipal libraries to increase services and support.

Promote collaboration and innovation

Recommendation 9
Establish a standing committee of assistant deputy ministers (ADM) to coordinate government policies and program initiatives that impact publicly-funded libraries.

Accept. Municipal Affairs will establish an ADM Standing Committee with representation from Service Alberta, Advanced Education and Technology, Education, Culture and Community Spirit, Employment and Immigration, and Aboriginal Relations.

Recommendation 10
Designate public libraries with innovative programs, services or technologies as centres of excellence. Package and share their expertise.

Accept. Municipal Affairs will establish an Advisory Committee that on an annual basis:

• identifies innovative public library programs, services or technologies;
• documents best practices; and
• develops and coordinates an annual awards program.

Recommendation 11
Actively find ways for public libraries and schools to work together on student supports, co-location, staffing, literacy, and sharing of resources, including videoconferencing.

Accept. Municipal Affairs will continue to participate in the School Library Review. Municipal Affairs will actively encourage municipalities to consider co-location of libraries and school libraries in new subdivisions.

Recommendation 12
Encourage public libraries to formalize meetings between all library stakeholders and partners (e.g. not-for-profit organizations, community groups, local provincial government offices, etc.) to avoid duplication of service.

Accept. Municipal Affairs will help libraries develop and implement mechanisms to improve communication between library stakeholders and partners.

Recommendation 13
Hold formal meetings with the federal government and First Nations and M�tis settlements so they can be included in the vision of seamless access to public library services.

Accept. Municipal Affairs (working with Aboriginal Relations) will initiate discussion between First Nations and M�tis stakeholders and the federal government on Aboriginal library services.

Capitalize on Technology

Recommendation 14
Develop a province-wide technology plan to create seamless access, including a single library card available to all Albertans.

Accept. Municipal Affairs will work cooperatively with TAL in developing a province-wide technology plan.

Recommendation 15
Plan, develop and implement videoconferencing services with other public organizations in communities.

Accept. Municipal Affairs will work with TAL to ensure libraries have access to videoconferencing facilities, avoiding duplication of taxpayer investment.

Recommendation 16
Explore opportunities with TAL to pilot emerging technologies in public libraries.

Accept. Municipal Affairs will collaborate with TAL on realizing its potential to be a pilot organization for emerging technologies.

Recommendation 17
Provide access to and purchase licenses for all electronic databases on a provincial (rather than a municipal or regional) basis.

Accept. Municipal Affairs will collaborate with TAL to expand database access, taking into account the costs and benefits of enhancing access to highly-specialized resources.