The British Columbia government is considering cutting funding to the province's public libraries. Yep, that's right - in a time of recession when people need the library facilities even MORE, the Liberal government in its wisdom (can you hear the sarcasm?) has proposed massive cuts to funding, effectively pulling the plug on public libraries. Please remember, library patrons use the facilities for more than just books and DVDs/videos/CDs/magazines (which many can no longer afford to buy), but for accessing job boards online and career books in the collection, email (so they can apply for jobs) and word processors to create/update CVs.I personally have already been affected by local funding issues - my hours have been drastically reduced till at least the end of the year, but if Mr. Campbell has his way, I may not have a job at all!
Even without my personal stake in this, I would be as passionate about STOPPING BC LIBRARY CUTS. A regular public library user from the age of four, I can't even imagine how many families will be negatively affected. School libraries have already felt the pinch, with, I gather, the reasoning that their patrons can use their local public library. So where will all those patrons turn if Mr. Campbell and his cronies gets their way?!
If you live in British Columbia, please, please, please stop by the site, read the material there, sign the petition and consider contacting your MLA to voice your thoughts on this very important topic. If you live elsewhere, the same thing may be happening, so check with your local library to see if they have info about similar campaigns to stop the decimation of our public library systems.
Thanks for listening.
Teresa
Link of the Day: Public Libraries brace for cuts as grant program reviewed
Link of the Day # 2: Public Library Use Surges During Recession
