New Library Funding with Big Strings Attached
Nova Scotia’s public libraries, which have been hanging on by a financial thread in recent years, have hope with a new provincial funding formula.
The Cumberland Public Library service walked a financial tightrope for the last few years as provincial funding was stagnant and additional local spending was appreciated, but insufficient to meet the needs.
At one point, the Chief Librarian, Denise Corey, announced the possible closure of some branches.
The closure was avoided as the province offered what was then called “a one-time offer,” though they offered it two years in a row.
The provincial government is now offering a new funding formula that seems to provide stability to the cash-strapped libraries.
However, it may come at a very heavy-handed cost. Along with some additional cash from the province, the government plan calls for more money from the municipalities, and the plan is mandatory, not voluntary.
Municipalities, quite rightly are objecting. The Municipality of Cumberland is facing an 85 thousand dollar increase, which comes at a time of local belt-tightening.
County Council is asking the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities to review this demanding approach.