A provincial freeze on half the regular funding for public libraries will see a significant amount of money on hold for the Drumheller Public Library, but services and staffing will not be affected.
About $22,000 in provincial funding will be withheld from the Drumheller library as the new conservative government reviews the spending of the former NDP government, with budget finalization expected in late October.
Library services director Emily Hollingshead says the Drumheller library is in a fortunate situation as only 15 per cent of their budget comes from provincial funds.The library is also financially supported by the Town of Drumheller and the library society, which helps raise funds for library initiatives.
“At this time we have no plans to cut programming or existing staff members’ hours or compensation,” she said.
“For now this is simply a matter of waiting for a new government to develop their budget, which isn’t unusual.”
The NDP government reviewed library funding in 2015, distributing 75 per cent of existing funds and the other quarter once the budget was finalized. While it’s unclear now if the UCP government will slash budgets and lower the amount given to libraries, and Premier Jason Kenney has been vocal about his government’s desire to reduce public spending, the library will wait to see if their funding will be reduced this fall.
Hollingshead says the library board will be joining other libraries in advocating for funding and the importance of libraries in Alberta communities.
“We’ll be more conservative in our spending than we might be otherwise just in case… If cuts are required down the road, the Library Board, management, and staff will work together to determine how best to make our available resources stretch.”
