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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday November 21, 2008 - 3 Proposed library cuts draw fire from board chair By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Some of the cost-cutting options being considered by Oakville's 2009 Budget Committee continued to draw fire, Wednesday night, with around 50 residents packing council chamber to plead for their causes. The meeting heard from 10 delegations, including Oakville Public Library Board Chair Brett Herrington, who objected to suggestions to reduce local library service. One option, designed to save $55,000 per year, would reduce the amount of new collections added to the libraries by seven per cent. Another option would see the library's hours of operation reduced. This option would save the town $20,000 per year and would see Oakville libraries operate from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from June 1530 and Sept. 15 to 30. The library's current hours are 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Other library cost saving options include reducing hours for customer account support, reducing Clearview branch service hours, reducing White Oaks branch hours and reducing the Central Branch Children's, Teen and Adult services. With those options in mind, Herrington made his case as to why Oakville's libraries should be spared these cuts. "We're here representing the library, but in addition we're representing 134,577 residents of Oakville. That's more than 70 per cent of the population of our town," said "In tough economic times, these are the types of services that are critical to our community and the library is really the central point for Oakville to connect citizens with the services that they require." Oakville Public Library `Board Chair Brett Herrington Herrington. "As chair of the library board and a resident of Oakville, I am extremely proud that our library is so highly used and so highly respected. In fact, in the most recent Vital Signs survey, the library was the only service that received an A grade." Herrington went on to note that every year, Oakville's libraries lend 2.1 million items, receive 1.5 million in-person visits, see 9.3 million hits on the Oakville Public Library website with another 2.4 million hits on the community services database and get 54,500 program visits. Herrington said this volume should rise in a struggling economy because these services are free. He said libraries serve as so much more than a place to check out books. "On top of everything else we do, we manage a database of more than 2,000 services and organizations within the community. For you to understand the importance of this, in the last few weeks we've seen an increase in the number of searches related to food banks, emergency housing, sexual assault and violence intervention," said Herrington. "In tough economic times, these are the types of services that are critical to our community and the library is really the central point for Oakville to connect citizens with the services that they require." The financial responsibility practiced by the Oakville libraries was another area Herrington urged the committee to consider. He noted that over the last four years the libraries' costs per capita have remained relatively stable at $47, while their costs per transaction have actually decreased every year for the last four years. Herrington also pointed out that this year the libraries' increase to the base budget of 2.9 per cent is the lowest increase of all the community services departments within the town. "We have a clear track record that we can responsibly manage our finances," said Herrington. "Going forward, the board is committed to continue managing our finances responsibly." In closing, Herrington asked for council's continued support in maintaining the level of library service so many Oakville residents have come to love and expect. Ward 5 Councillor Marc Grant inquired about the libraries' customer account support service and whether that service could become more automated. One library official noted some steps had already been taken with users now able to renew their books online. However, she pointed out that when it comes to other issues on their accounts, residents prefer to talk with actual people to have their problems resolved. The fate of Oakville's public libraries was not the only topic of discussion during the Wednesday night meeting. Five delegations expressed opposition to budget reduction options that would see total cuts to arts and culture grants. The Arts Council's annual operating grant of $75,500 is being considered for the chopping block with the option stating it would be phased out by 2010. The $98,000 provided for cultural grants could receive similar treatment if another budget reduction option is approved. "Each year your commission comes forward with a number of items for potential reduction and each year the operating grant of the Oakville Arts Council comes forward and each year we respond," said Ken Kawall, past president of the Oakville Arts Council. "You have seen a number of delegations through this entire process that have come forward, but we keep going over this each and every year. We would ask your consideration that we could get beyond this year. This is part of the ongoing operating base budget of the town and we would like to make sure that it stays this way." The 2009 Budget Committee will be making its final recommendations on Wednesday, Nov. 26, with the recommendations coming before council on Monday, Dec. 1. For more information, visit www.oakville.ca. 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