A heartfelt thank-you goes out to those library patrons, workers, and Library Board members that lobbied tirelessly on behalf of libraries as a great social and civic service, and public treasure.  Hats off to the Library Board Chair Joan Andersen, who lobbied Council for no cuts to hours of opening to the libraries.  Much of what Joan Andersen had to say was in my report, and Patricia Moir’s original report, so we had to revise quickly.  My query to Council was, “ had anyone ever done a Social Return on Investment on Vancouver Library?,” because for every library dollar spent the community received back anywhere from $5-$10 in measurable value.  City Council asked me to submit a further report (which I did Wednesday December 16) and to ask the Library Board to consider producing a SROI report (I made request at December 9th Board meeting).  The Board will be bring this forward probably at January meeting.  Each cut to library service represents a loss of revenue, social and otherwise, to the public we serve. 

Craig Nelson presented the second evening of public hearings about the impact of libraries on vulnerable populations (personal experience as a child) and library workers.  Great job, Craig! You supported your fellow members and those you serve, with energy and dedication.  Todd Wong, who is well-known with Council for his work with our diverse and cultural communities, spoke for both Jacob Breen (who was ill) and himself, on CUPE 391’s perspective on budget cuts.  Todd also was asked questions from Council.  Gloria Hershorn presented on the last evening.  She reminded Council what we lost with the contracting out of the Bindery and how it opened the doors to the loss of local control with Collection Development.  Gloria and Todd received much appreciation from the gallery.  Here are how the Operating Budget 2010 Recommendations cuts play out.  Vancouver Public Library fared the best of all the community services.

Recommendations:
A. Council approve budget resolution for final Operating Budget with a property tax increase of 2.26 %
B. Council approve the funding requests and proposed service adjustments as outlined in December 1, 2009 Administrative Report, 2010 Operating Budget: Proposed Budget and Public Consultation Update:
Following Adjustments:

• Funding of $153,000 to retain Riley Park with savings from the delayed implementation of the remaining 2% of Exempt staff’s 4% increase for 2010.  Exempt City Staff will receive 23.5% in salary increases from 2007-2011.
• Increase funding to VPL branches serving vulnerable populations by $192,000
• Increase funding to the VPL Central Library to retain current operating hours

• $500,00 City’s emergency shelter program
• $300,00 contingency fund

Notable by its absence is any reference to the $360,000 in cuts and positions to Technical Services (Acquisitions, Preparations, Cataloguing).  Paul Whitney told me the day after CUPE WritersFest, that there would be no further implementation of shelf-ready materials. 

The City Librarian also said there would be a Library Board meeting on December 21st.  Please call Chrysalyn Tolentino at 604-331-4003 or e-mail her at chrysalyn.tolentino@vl.ca if you wish to attend or speak.
Thanks again to Ed Dickson, Craig Nelson, the fabulous Riley Park gang and Randy Gatley for speaking to the Library Board in November and December.  When we act together with those we serve, we get results.  Today’s restoration of some of the funding is the result of ongoing networking with every user group and political group in the City and sometimes, the province, and great public awareness campaigning from CUPE Regional and CUPE BC.  That is what it takes - recognition of shared values, citizenship and solidarity.

Alex

We are now Vancouver, Gibsons and Sechelt Public Library Employees.  Sechelt Public Library Workers voted by a very large margin to join CUPE 391, Vancouver and Gibsons Public Library Employees on Monday, December 14, 2009. We are thrilled and proud to be able to add Sechelt to our Local’s name.

Gibsons and Sechelt are two of CUPE 391’s most beautiful branches.  See Sechelt - http://www.sechelt.bclibrary.ca/ and Gibsons - http://gibsons.bclibrary.ca/.  I am so impressed with the intelligence and knowledge of our new colleagues and friends.  The new members are very thoughtful and caring about those they serve and wanted to make sure the transition to becoming union members had no adverse effects on their community. 

We will want to visit our new friends on the beautiful Sunshine Coast.  Please drop into Gibsons and District Public Library and Sechelt Public Library and give a warm welcome to our previous and new members.

in solidarity

Alex

December 2nd Council Meeting, Public Hearing

Over ninety people signed to speak at the December 2nd Public Hearing on the 2010 Operating Budget.  The Bloedal Conservatory and the Petting Zoo folks were out in force.  They jiggled placards on 12th Avenue alongside traffic, garnering support from honking cars.  Inder and I were spouted paeans of praise about library service with a bullhorn.  Shades of Grandeur on Georgia.  It was no less lively inside, with hundreds of supporters encouraging the speakers.
Please make sure you bring your granny and friends to December 9th Council Meeting, Part 2. Craig Nelson, Kathy Juszko and Jacob Breen and Gloria Hershorn are slated to speak.  Think of attention-getting slogans and pump up your vocal chords.  About twelve speakers out of ninety spoke on December 2nd.

Five Library workers signed to speak at the Public Hearing, Council Meeting, December 2, 2009.  Stuart MacKinnon, Parks Board representative to Library, and Joan Andersen, Library Board Chair. spoke eloquently about the importance of libraries to our culturally diverse communities.  We all recommended no cuts as the value of library service is demonstrated every day. in myriad ways.  in fact, Joan and I seemed to be reading from the same page so I brought the value of specific studies to the Councilors attention.  I said that we should not consider cuts until a Social Return on Investment had been brought forward and evaluated.  We have never had a specifically designed SROI on Vancouver Public Library and we need that kind of information before we make cuts to vital library service.  This ... read your email.

in solidarity,
Alex