Canadians, Public Libraries and the Information Highway: Final Report

Funding-Related Issues

In the last several years, many public libraries across the country have had to deal with reductions in funding as all levels of government have reduced spending. While some have been able to secure adequate funding, others are facing funding shortfalls. In an era of continued fiscal restraint and one in which the public is reluctant to see taxes raised, many public libraries are increasingly having to find alternative means to ensure sufficient funding.

The issue of funding is particularly relevant for public libraries if, on the one hand, there are limited public funds, and on the other, they are undertaking newer roles such as those relating to the information highway.

The survey probed attitudes towards different ways that public libraries could raise funds to address shortfalls. As is often the case when examining funding-related issues, there is a coexistence of support for different approaches.

While there is a strong belief that public libraries are a suitable target for increased government funding, most respondents are not willing to see taxes raised to this end. At the same time, respondents also believe that public libraries themselves must take a greater role in securing adequate levels of funding. On the other hand, they do not support the broad approach where newer services are provided by reducing other services elsewhere.

These findings are summarized in Exhibit 4.1.

• A majority of respondents (61 per cent) agree that public libraries should receive a larger share of government funds. Only 10 per cent disagree.
• On the other hand, close to one in two respondents (46 per cent) believe that public libraries should not be funded through tax increases. Still, it is noteworthy that 27 per cent agree that taxes should be raised, although much of this support is more moderate than strong.
• Respondents also believe that public libraries should share in some of the responsibility for addressing funding shortfalls through different means, including user fees (63 per cent), increasing overdue fines (59 per cent), and introducing annual membership fees (51 per cent). Two in three respondents (66 per cent) also believe that public libraries should use fund raising activities.
• In contrast, respondents were far more likely to disagree that newer services should be funded by reducing other services, programs or collections (49 per cent vs. only 14 per cent who agree).