Around the world, it’s a question being asked – are public libraries still relevant?
Last year in the UK, 201 public libraries were closed due to declining circulation.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, now embroiled in greater controversy over alleged drug use, waded into this debate in 2011, saying his council should address budget shortcomings with a “rationalization of Toronto’s public library footprint.”
There was soon a loud public outcry.
Across Canada, school boards are cutting their teacher-librarian positions. There are none left in Nova Scotia.
The Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School District, faced with a budget shortfall for the coming school year, cut teacher-librarian positions so that each high school will be left with one half-time teacher-librarian.
Earlier this year, Delta municipal Coun. Ian Paton suggested libraries may be going the way of rental video stores. He asked why – in an era when people have computers in their homes and can buy digital books for hand-held devices – should Delta spend $3.19 million per year on libraries?
In 2013, every person in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows will spend $34 for library services.
Of the $22 million collected in taxes by the Fraser Valley Regional Library system, $2.6 million will come from Maple Ridge, and $875,000 from Pitt Meadows, which last year opened a new public library.
Is it money well spent?
At the Maple Ridge Public Library on Thursday morning, there is a lineup of people waiting for the 10 a.m. opening. There are three silver-haired seniors at the door, a pair of moms with strollers waiting behind them, and a young man reading a novel on the public bench nearby.
As they wait, more people walk up, until the group numbers about 20. The doors open, and they file in, going to various corners of the multi-level, 35,000-square-foot facility.
Library manager Teresa MacLeod said most mornings there is a lineup to get in.
“That’s typical. There’s storytime at 10:30, and people want our internet computers or newspapers.”
Three mornings per week, between 75 and 100 parents and tots attend storytime – one of the most popular library services – then some 40 or 50 more will attend babytime for children under 2.
Parents know the importance of teaching their children to love reading.
MacLeod said librarians themselves are having the conversation about relevance of their services. She said politicians asking this question need to get familiar with modern facilities.
“They have an image of what libraries are in their head, and that’s kind of book repositories.”
Libraries have changed a lot in the last generation, and it’s not just the coffee brewing.
MacLeod points out that in June there was an Aboriginal film series offer in the Fraser Room, the main meeting room at the library
It also library hosted a celebration of Eid, a Muslim feast to mark the end of Ramadan’s fasting, just as it celebrated Diwali, and the Japanese cherry blossom festival. Generally about 100 people turn up for such events.
“People learn about other cultures, and it’s friendly and social,” she said.
With a local seniors group, the library hosted the Aging Gracefully Series, which has been popular and covers everything from caring for aging parents to financial literacy for older adults.
There is a teen council, which helps younger “reading buddies” with literacy, at the library, which has gotten involved in projects like gadget workshops for seniors.
Helping people with technology has been another recent theme at the library. There have been drop-in computer assistance sessions, workshops on basic computer literacy, and lessons in social media online.
“They’re low key, friendly and non-intimidating,” MacLeod said of the programs.
And play a critical role for her organization.
“It’s really important – where else do people go?”
MacLeod said many people have gotten their parents or grandparents e-readers so they can buy digital books, and the recipients end up asking the librarians how to use them.
E-books are creating a change in the library system, but it has not been as fast and dramatic as politicians wanting to cut the “library” line item out of their budgets would have taxpayers believe.
Library members can go onto the FVRL site and download e-books for free. The difference between that and buying the book is that after three weeks the e-book file disappears from their device. That is the arrangement that has been made between libraries and publishers.
MacLeod said there are generally “little frustrations” when people start reading e-books, but soon most become fans.
Rita Penco, director of client services for FVRL, allows that whether libraries are worth an investment of public funds is a legitimate question for politicians to ask. But they shouldn’t get too far ahead of themselves.
“E-books are here, but we’re nowhere near the death of paper and the printed word yet,” she said. “And our circulation is holding its own.”
E-book borrowing represents only five percent of total borrowing in the FVRL system.
In Maple Ridge, it is eight per cent.
“There’s danger in complacency, and libraries have known for decades that we are in continuous change,” she said. “Libraries provide community space, and the use of that space will change in 10 years time.”
Talking to random library patrons about whether libraries have become redundant is a little like going to church to ask people their views on religion. The people at the Maple Ridge library on Thursday morning are keeping the faith.
“I use the library all the time,” said senior Dianne Royal, who borrows six to eight books every month. “It’s free – I pay for it with my taxes and it saves me a lot of money.”
She said the staff is excellent, and “I like this library.”
A pair of teens looking at graphic novels echoed her sentiments, and both agreed they prefer hard copy over e-books.
Asked what they would think of the public library eventually closing, one said: “It would be really sad.” His eyes opened a little wider. “It would affect my life.”
Michelle Moises, at the library with two toddlers, said, “We use it a lot, for storytime and reading club, and they like it.”
What would if it closed?
A toddler with a thumb in her mouth makes a pouty sound to answer for Moises.
“There is some concern about what the future will be,” said MacLeod. “We are already in a dual world in libraries – in the traditional print format, and in the digital world.”
She said it will likely remain that way for five to 10 years. Beyond that, there is no obvious trend.
MacLeod believes the role as an educational resource will remain. And she thinks children’s books, with their unique artistry, will still be popular with preschooler and early readers.
“The picture book area of publishing is going to be one that lasts longer than adult fiction,” she predicts. “It’s that warm, cozy, read-a-loud with your kid.”
She said 36 per cent of the population of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows has a library card, and that is a respectable number.
Last year, there were 360,000 visits to the Maple Ridge library.
“It’s an important meeting place, an important forum for ideas, and we’ll still be guiding people to find what they’re looking for,” said MacLeod.
“And I think we’ll still be doing storytime.”