The Library Services and the province have found a way to keep a loan program running.
In a joint statement by the Northern and Southern Ontario Library Services, the combined entities announced that effective June 1st a partial solution had been reached to keep the Inter-library loan services running.
This comes in the wake that the loan services were ceasing due to the Ontario government cutting the SOLS budget in half.
According to the letter sent by the library services, both agencies will offer partial reimbursement to libraries for delivery costs through Canada Post. This will reportedly preserve the online services that the libraries use to coordinate the services.
Within the joint statement, the library services explained that they and the Ministry of Finance had worked together over the past month to revise the budget to reach a common goal.
“The inter-library loan program is an important tool that allows libraries to share their catalogues, connecting people with the books they want to read – regardless of where they are in the province,” the letter reads. “We will continue to work with our partners, including local libraries, library organizations and the ministry, to deliver the services that our communities rely on.”
Minister of Finance Vic Fedeli said, “we are very happy to see that a resolution has been reached with both the Ontario Library Service – North and the Southern Ontario Library Service, restoring the inter-library loan program effective June 1st.”
Following extensive consultation work, the libraries have identified opportunities to modernize and find efficiencies within their operations. None of the efficiencies affect front line service to customers – library users will continue to enjoy the same level of service as they have come to expect at their local libraries.
No additional funding has been provided to either organization – budgets remain the same as originally provided in the 2019 budget.
Written by Phil McCabe