Yukon Annual Report to PTPLC May 2010

Transcription

1 Yukon Annual Report to PTPLC May 2010 Mission and Mandate To support the growth and development of Yukon people, associations, and communities through a public libraries network by providing community education, information, culture and recreation opportunities and resources for life-long learning and an educated, informed and healthy public. Legislation Yukon Public Libraries Act & Regulations (1987) Yukon Financial Administration Act, Library Privileges and Fees Regulations (1987) An internal review of the legislation is in progress. While a full re-write is unlikely at this time, regulatory changes are possible in Structure The Public Libraries Branch sits under the Community Development Division of the Department of Community Services along with Community Affairs, Community Operations, Property Assessment & Taxation, Sports & Recreation and Information & Support Services. Within this Division, the Director of the Public Libraries Branch reports to the Assistant Deputy Minister of Community Development. Within the Public Libraries Branch, Finance/Administration, Technical Services, Public Programmes, Branch Services, provide centralised support to Yukon Public Libraries and direct operation of Whitehorse Public Library.

2 Yukon Public Libraries offers library services in Yukon through Whitehorse Public Library and 14 community branches. 99% of Yukon s population has direct access to local library service. Services To Government, Public Libraries And Library Systems The Branch operates central library functions and works with the Whitehorse Public Library Board and community library boards to deliver public library services throughout Yukon. Public Libraries Branch: Administers the public libraries legislation and provides consultative advice, training and expert assistance to community library boards and their staff; Operates Whitehorse Public Library as the central library and resource centre; Provides direct and indirect financial, administrative and other support to community library boards to assist them in operating their community libraries; Provides operational support to community librarians and their boards to ensure quality library service in safe, welcoming and appropriately managed facilities; Coordinates system-wide collection development and maintenance, automated systems, programming, promotion, reference and interlibrary loans services and technical support to all libraries; Facilitates the Whitehorse Public Library Board and assists the Friends of Whitehorse Public Library (FOWL); Operates Yukon Public Libraries automated systems for all libraries, providing cataloguing and circulation functions and the public access catalogue as well as the Yukon Public Libraries website and related automated services; Plans for, co-ordinates and implements new technologies and initiatives; Promotes co-operation and resource sharing among Yukon Public Libraries and with Yukon and other libraries and agencies; Works on behalf of public libraries with government and the private sector; and Provides leadership at territorial and national levels and represents Yukon on issues relating to public libraries. Participated in PTPLC, and early literacy and best practices sub-committees. Provided input to Library & Archives Canada discussions on equitable access. Grants/Finances The 2010/2011 O&M budget of $1,795,000 funds the full public libraries programme, including branch administration and the operations of Whitehorse Public Library. A gain of $58,000 over 2009/2010 reflects increases to transfer payment agreements with community library boards

3 and modest adjustments to in-yukon travel, supplies and postage budgets. A further upward adjustment to the budget is underway to reflect a recently ratified 3 year collective agreement between Government of Yukon and YEU- PSAC. Within the O&M budget, the Branch provides salary funding in the amount of $349,000 to community library boards through transfer payment agreements using a modified population-based formula to calculate opening hours at set hourly rates. The increase to the base amount for 2010/2011 enables community library boards to pay their staff at similar rates to Government of Yukon staff working in Whitehorse Public Library. In addition, the Branch provides community libraries with full services including automated payroll services, liability insurance, collections, supplies, furnishings and equipment, computers, high speed Internet access and space. Centralised cataloguing, processing and distribution of materials, interlibrary loans, reference services, programming, and promotion ensure that the Yukon Public Libraries system works collaboratively to provide an effective public library service. Public Libraries Branch capital budget for 2010/2011 includes $15,000 for electronic products and $20,000 for community library upgrading. Yukon Government is also a significant contributor to the planning, design and construction of a new Whitehorse Public Library. Funding Source Breakdown: $349,000 in transfer payment agreements to community library boards Other costs to operate community libraries borne by the Branch Local fund-raising in some branches supplements staffing, programmes, services, collections and furnishings provided by government. Some communities, particularly smaller ones, have little or no access to outside funding. No funding provided to library associations or other agencies. No municipal funding for public libraries in Yukon. Activities: The Branch works with a wide range of community and national partners to provide collections and programmes for various ages and interests. Major partners in 2009/2010 included: The Canada Council for the Arts (the Literary Readings programme) The Bureau of French Language Services (the Canada-Yukon funding agreement for Francophone collections and services) National Film Board (deposit collection) Libraries and Archives Canada (TD Summer Reading Programme) The Canadian Library Association (Canadian Library Month), and The British Columbia Government and the B.C. Library Association (AskAway Virtual Reference).

4 Local partners included: Yukon Archives (coordination of Northern Collection, access to archival resources, shared library automation system) Yukon News (Not Just Books column), and Yukon Literacy Coalition (the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Family Literacy Day, the Yukon Literacy Summit and related events). The Yukon Writers Festival, Live Words, takes place each spring with events in Whitehorse and Yukon communities organised by Public Libraries Branch and an array of local partners and sponsors. The Branch s guest for 2010 was Lisa Moore from Newfoundland & Labrador (Author of Degrees of Nakedness, Open, Alligator and February), who joined Linda Holeman, David Waltner-Toews, Yvette Nolan, Miriam Toews and Yukon s own Miche Genest for the highly-successful eight-day long festival. Events included public readings, receptions and workshops in various Yukon communities and the Young Authors Conference for high school students throughout Yukon. Canadian Library Month/Yukon Library Week is celebrated with local activities and events recognising libraries and literature through readings, contests, open houses and other events. In 2009 library month celebrated the 50 th anniversary of the Yukon Regional Library System with community-based events, public readings showcasing Yukon writers and open houses and promotions. The Berton House Retreat is a highly coveted opportunity for midcareer Canadian writers to stay at Pierre Berton s childhood home in historic Dawson City. The Dawson City Library Board act as local hosts in conjunction with the Writers Trust of Canada. Library readings in Dawson City and Whitehorse enable the public to benefit from each visiting writer. Programmes for various ages including Summer Reading Programme for ages 6-12 and teens, year-round babytime, toddler time and preschool storytimes, author readings, workshops, displays and special presentations promote public libraries and garner enthusiastic and often overflow audiences. Ongoing facilities work for 2009/2010 focussed on maintenance at the Carcross Library and planning and design for a new Whitehorse Public Library in the Kwanlin Dun First Nation Cultural Centre complex on the downtown waterfront. The new building design was launched during library month and the anniversary celebrations and site preparation is now underway. Progress was made for the remaining community libraries to go live with automated circulation. As most of these branches are joint schoolpublic libraries, implementation of the circulation module is more challenging. We anticipate having all branches live in 2010/2011 with full

5 access to circulation functions. Yukon partners with the Yukon Literacy Coalition and a local Rotary club to provide the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to children throughout Yukon. This programme provides a book each month to children born in Yukon from birth to age 5 to encourage reading in the home and promote literacy. Yukon participated in AskAway, the BC virtual reference service, in 2009/2010, providing an electronic forum for Yukoners to ask reference questions of librarians and receive expert assistance in real time and for branch staff to hone their reference skills in a larger environment. With the conclusion to this project in June 2010, alternative methods of providing virtual reference will be explored. Funding in 2009/2010 continued electronic database subscriptions accessible to library patrons through the Yukon Public Libraries PAC. Subscriptions to assist library users with reference and research needs include: Whitehorse Star online, Access Science, Ancestry Library Edition, Auto Repair Reference Center, Consumer Health Complete, CultureGrams, Daily Life through History, Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, Home Improvement Reference Center, Kids Search, MasterFILE Select, Novelist, Oxford English Dictionary Online, Oxford Reference Online: Premium Collection, Small Engine Repair Reference Center and World Book Online. Work continued on the Yukon Public Libraries website to promote library programmes, services and the collection. Current Issues: Stability is now in place at the Branch level after a dramatic staff turnover in 2008/2009 enabling resumption of normal activities and progress on new initiatives. Preparation for occupancy of Whitehorse Public Library in the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre on the Whitehorse riverfront. Construction is expected to be completed by fall 2011 with occupancy by spring Review of public libraries legislation and update to fees and fines regulations. Although a full legislative review is unlikely at this time, we are hopeful that some of the issues can be addressed through regulatory reform. Assessment of Yukoners needs for accessible library resources. Pilot project to enhance access to electronic resources (e.g. downloadable books) in Yukon Public Libraries

6 Upgrade to public Internet service in Whitehorse Public Library and stabilization of wireless Internet access. Resolve budget, access and capacity concerns for fixed and wifi connections. Review expectation of comparable wireless service throughout Yukon. Improvements to communications for community libraries. Infrastructure needs in various community libraries; libraries in Carcross and Beaver Creek require significant renovations or new space in order to continue operations. Space issues in Burwash Landing and Tagish also need to be addressed. Library needs analysis for rural Whitehorse to reflecting a growing community expanding through dispersed subdivisions. Completion of automated circulation implementation in community libraries. Resolution of joint library circulation processes. Ageing collections may not always be relevant to community needs or incorporate new technologies. Links of interest Yukon Public Libraries web page: Yukon Libraries Public Access Catalogue: Yukon Public Libraries 2008/2009 Annual Statistics/Budget Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre/Whitehorse Public Library JO