Okanagan Regional Library Board Envision Library of the Future and Approve 2016 Budget
October 22, 2015
At the Okanagan Regional Library Board meeting on Wednesday, directors continued a strategic planning process to transform the public library system over the next few years. Recognizing the leaps in technology and access to information in the past decade, the Board considered how to prioritize the library’s traditional roles with emerging opportunities in such areas as teaching digital literacy, educational and cultural partnerships, and revitalization of library spaces.
The next step in strategic planning involves public consultations to be held in Revelstoke, Kelowna, West Kelowna, Keremeos, and Salmon Arm. Board directors will be seeking feedback from both library members and non-members on how they envision the library to look in the future and what kind of services are important.
“We are hearing from people with all kinds of needs – for example, many want help with learning about technology and some want us to support their creativity through things such as workshops on e-publishing, access to 3-D printers, laser cutters, video or sound recording equipment”, explains ORL CEO Stephanie Hall. “Some would like us to expand our work in supporting learning and literacy with more author readings, and partnering with schools and post-secondary institutions.”
At the meeting, directors approved a total budget for 2016 of $18,247,446. This represents a 1.98% increase, or $351,818, over the 2015 budget. Half of the increase will fund negotiated wage increases for staff, while other increases are related to higher rents and utilities, and higher book and eResource costs based on inflation and the effect of the lower Canadian dollar.
The budget increase also covers the cost of moving furnishing purchases into the regular ORL levy, rather than the current practice of making requests to local governments in a separate process.
Hall added, “We are fortunate to have a very engaged Board looking to the future of library services and now we will be inviting the public to add their voices to the dialogue.”
