Whereas core funding for public libraries in British Columbia has remained unchanged since 2009, despite BCs population growing 29, limiting their ability to expand and evolve their programming as demand for their services increases; And whereas the operational requirements of public libraries increasingly require significant and diverse resources to provide front-line community services, including supporting patrons with mental health and addiction issues as well as barriers to housing, providing critical locations of refuge during extreme weather events, providing services to new Canadians, and supporting the process of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call on the provincial government to increase core funding for public libraries on a yearly basis in line with inflation and immediately increase annual core funding for libraries to 30 million as requested by the BC Public Library Partners and recommended by the provinces Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services.
