2024 Library Services Review

At the regular meeting of Perth South council held on April 16, 2024, Fred Tranquilli, CAO, presented a report with regards to library services.  The report included the following information:

Background

Since at least 2008, Perth South has had an agreement for the purchase of library services from Huron County Library Board, Stratford Public Library Board and the St. Marys Public Library Board. The Boards presented their 2024 Budget requests at the January 9, 2024 meeting as follows:

            St. Marys Public Library      $74,363

            Stratford Public Library       $45,480

            Huron County Library          $11,266

                                    TOTAL          $131,109

As part of the development of the 2024 Municipal Budget, Council reduced the allocation for purchasing library services to $65,000.00 from the 2023 allocation of $126,052.00. Council approved the Huron County Library request leaving $53,734.00 available for purchasing library services.

 On March 12, 2024, I spoke with the CEOs of the Stratford and St. Marys Libraries to share with them the anticipated reduction in the Perth South library budget. No request was made to Stratford to reduce its proposed budget since it could be accommodated within the Perth South allocation. On March 20, 2024, I wrote to Cole Atlin, Chair of the St. Marys Library Board, inviting the Board to consider submitting a revised budget request which would fit within the remaining allocation.

On April 5, 2024, I received a response from St. Marys declining to resubmit its budget request.  Also on April 5, 2024, I received correspondence from Stratford Library. Stratford advised that it declined to reduce its budget request even though a reduction to the Stratford budget was not proposed. More importantly, Stratford indicated for the first time that its proposed renewal was contingent on there being a contract with St. Marys and wrote “we will not enter into a contract with Perth South without St. Marys Public Library also being offered their full contract amount ask”.

At no time during Stratford’s January 9, 2024, budget submission to Council, or Stratford’s submissions in any of the past fifteen years, did Stratford reveal that its agreement was conditional on an agreement being in place with St. Marys. Finally, Stratford also threatened to “immediately suspend all active Perth South resident library cards” if their budget request was not approved. Perth South library users would then be required to purchase non-resident cards to access library services.        

Comments

The budget approved by Perth South Council is insufficient to renew library service contracts with both St. Marys and Stratford. Additionally, because of the County wide library access available through the Perth County Information Network, there does not appear to be any meaningful benefit to Perth South residents to having two Perth County library contracts when one contract would allow existing service levels to be maintained.

While the budget would be sufficient to renew the agreement with Stratford, at the budget Stratford requested, Stratford appears to have materially changed its proposal. As a result, unless the Council agrees to approve the budgets presented by both St. Marys and Stratford (this year and likely in future years), renewing the current agreements with both Stratford and St. Marys is not possible at current funding levels.

 Council then passed a resolution as follows:

Moved by Councillor Robert Wilhelm

Seconded by Councillor Jim Van Nes

THAT: the Library Services Agreements Report be received for information; and, that council pursue non-resident library cards and reimburse up to 2 cards per household to residents who purchase the cards; and further direct staff to pursue library service options for 2025.  Carried

At this meeting, Perth South council also approved executing the annual agreement for library services with Huron County for the location in the Kirkton Woodham Community Centre.

Since that time the St Marys Public Library has sent correspondence indicating that the St Marys Public library would cease to provide services to Perth South residents.  St. Marys Public Library has also confirmed that they will not issue non-resident library cards to Perth South residents.

On May 15, 2024 a letter was received from Stratford Public Library and this includes options for council’s consideration.  Both pieces of correspondence are included on the May 21, 2024 for Council’s consideration.

 Perth South council is dedicated to providing library services to the residents of Perth South and is working towards a solution to this issue. 

 Residents can go to the Kirkton Woodham Community Centre and get a library card from the Huron County library.  Or residents can reach out to surrounding libraries to purchase a non-resident card.  Bring your proof of purchase to the Township office and you will be reimbursed. 

 Thank you for your patience while council and staff negotiate a library service contract.