BCLTA BULLETIN – July 24, 2009

CONTENTS

Announcements
Featured Grants
Featured Resources
Upcoming Events
Member Information Requests
Advertisements

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• As noted in a bulletin to BCLTA members earlier this week, BCLTA is extremely concerned about the current freeze on provincial grants to libraries as well as potential cuts to library funding in the upcoming provincial budget. –A meeting between library community representatives and the Minister of Education is scheduled for July 28th to discuss the dire situation facing BC’s public libraries, but we strongly urge all library boards and their local governments to fax/email/write the Minister and the Premier in the meantime – stressing the importance of maintaining provincial support for libraries.  Please consult our “Briefing Note re Provincial Funding” for details, and also visit BCLTA’s “2009 Provincial Grant Freeze” webpage for a list of resources on this topic.  A press release and backgrounder on the library community’s provincial funding concerns will be provided to the provincial and local media on Monday, July 27th and will also conveyed to all local governments in BC for information and action.  Please check the BCLTA website for this and other provincial funding updates over the coming weeks.
  
  
• The Fraser Valley Regional Library has developed a “Stop BC Library Cuts” website to help the library community mobilize public support in the campaign to maintain provincial grants. The site will go live Monday, July 27th and in it you will find:
• A poster to download and put up in the library, advertising the campaign to the public;
• A postcard you can print off and make available in your library for people to sign and mail to the Premier;
• An electronic petition for all to sign in support of library funding;
• A backgrounder explaining the issue;
• A call for those who can to write a letter to the Minister of Education asking her to maintain provincial support for public libraries;
• A page aimed at the public, staff, board members, friends.
  
  
• Overdue Library Fees (Monday Magazine, by Sean Holman, July 22, 2009) ...British Columbia’s public libraries may be forced to reduce their hours if they don’t get the funding they need from the provincial government... [Please click on the above link to read the full text of this article.]


• Libraries May be the Next Victim of Post-Election Cuts Says Austin (NDP Media Release, July 23, 2009) …The Campbell government may be preparing to unleash another post-election cut, this time to libraries, says New Democrat education critic Robin Austin... [Please click on the above link to read the full text of this article.]
  
  
• BC Government Backtracks on Commitment to Literacy Programs< (BCGEU Press Release, July 20, 2009 …On July 16, twenty one regional literacy co-ordinators (RLCs) were informed that their jobs are being cut, only one year after the government created the positions… [Please click on the above link to read the full text of this press release.] /li>
  
  
• Summer MLA Receptions have now been held in Terrace, Invermere, Kelowna, Houston and Castlegar...with several other events scheduled for the coming weeks. Event summaries, photos and media coverage of the Terrace, Houston and Castlegar receptions are available on the BCLTA website. Look under the “Advocacy” tab and click on the “Summer MLA Receptions” link. In lieu of full receptions, some libraries are choosing to invite MLA(s) to already-scheduled library events this summer (e.g., Salmo plans to invite its MLA to attend a Summer Reading Club event near the end of July; Coquitlam is holding a Martini Social Fundraiser in August and has invited its MP, MLAs and Mayor) or to arrange meetings between their board chairs and local MLA(s) (e.g., Richmond Chair Lyn Greenhill and City Councillor Linda Barnes met with MLAs Linda Reid, John Yap and Rob Howard in mid July). If your library is unable to host a full reception, please consider one of these options to connect with your community’s provincial representative(s).


• Copyright consultations begin...  On July 20th, 2009, Minister of Industry Tony Clement, and Minister of Canadian Heritage James Moore officially launched nationwide consultations to solicit Canadians’ opinions on the important issue of copyright.  The consultations will run until September 13th, 2009 and the intent is to introduce legislation this coming fall.  Components of the consultations will include an online discussion forum, as well as a submission centre for posting detailed submissions.  In addition, several round table discussions are being held across Canada, in which experts and key organizations will be participating.  Recordings of these events will be available at http://copyright.econsultation.ca and the legislative revision process will also be summarized and followed at www.copyrightanswers.blogspot.com. To make a submission online or take part in the online discussion visit the Copyright Consultation website at: http://copyright.econsultation.ca/


• A reminder that, in response to member feedback, the formerly weekly BCLTA Bulletin is now a bi-weekly publication – or less often in the event of little news. Urgent announcements will be issued in between bulletins as required. Also in response to member requests, we will be sending the bulletin as both a formatted .htm attachment and a simplified text version in the body of the email notice.

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FEATURED GRANTS

• EmbraceBC initiative launched...  On July 20th, 2009, Ben Stewart, the Minister of Citizens’ Services and Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism announced a new initiative called EmbraceBC.  “EmbraceBC complements WelcomeBC, the province’s strategic framework for immigrant settlement and integration services and welcoming and inclusive communities’ initiatives.  EmbraceBC addresses diversity and anti-racism as it relates to all people in BC, including immigrant and newcomer populations, visible minorities, Aboriginal peoples and society as a whole.  Community groups in BC can now access part of a $1.4-million fund to develop projects that embrace cultural diversity and help eliminate racism.”

See http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2009-2013/2009CITZ0002-000116.htm for the full news release and http://www.embracebc.ca/ for more information.

Has your library taken advantage of a grant or funding program you’d like to pass along to the rest of the trustee community?  If so, please contact Errin Morrison at execdirector@bclta.org with the details.

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FEATURED RESOURCES

• BCLTA has created a “2009 Provincial Grant Freeze” webpage to provide information to library boards on the status of provincial library funding as well as tools to use in lobbying the provincial government to maintain current funding levels.  Please visit the BCLTA website and look under the Advocacy tab for this and other advocacy-related materials – and please help us get the word out while there’s still time to preserve the provincial grants!

• Be sure to visit www.stopbclibrarycuts.ca on Monday morning!  This is a special website designed by the Fraser Valley Regional Library to help the library community mobilize public support in the campaign to maintain provincial grants. 
  
  
• Check out the new Board Liability Insurance page on the BCLTA website for a brief summary of library board insurance requirements and recommendations.

• Learn more about the Living Library movement through the following resources: The Official Living Library Website; WJBC Living Library Project; WJBC Living Library Project Group.  The WJBC Living Library Project includes access to the free, archived webinar “Don’t Judge a Book by it’s Cover” – held July 22, 2009.  Find out how your library can use the Living Library concept (where participants can "check out" Living Books for a personal conversation) to promote dialogue, reduce prejudices and encourage understanding.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

• BCLTA President Andy Ackerman and other representatives of the library community will meet with the new Minister of Education, the Honourable Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid, this coming Tuesday, July 28th in Victoria to discuss the freeze on provincial grants to libraries and the importance of maintaining library funding in the fall budget.  A press release on the dire situation facing public libraries will be issued on Monday, July 27th and will be available on the “2009 Provincial Grant Freeze” page of the BCLTA website.

• September marks the first anniversary of the new North Vancouver City Library.  As part of the celebrations, photographers Joaquin Pedrero, Ana Pedrero, Ralph Bower, and Terry Peters will showcase their work in a photo exhibit taking place September 13-27 at the Library.  The public is invited to hear Andrew Collins play classical guitar at the opening reception on Sunday, September 13, from 2-4 pm.  For those interested in learning more, the photographers will give talks about their work: Ana and Joaquin Pedrero at 7 pm on September 15; and Ralph Bower and Terry Peters at 7 pm on September 17.

• LGMA Women in Leadership Program, Radisson Hotel Vancouver Airport, Richmond, BC. Monday, September 14-16, 2009.  The Local Government Management Association of British Columbia is pleased to announce the sixth annual Women in Leadership Program. This year’s theme “Personal Journeys” will explore the challenges and opportunities faced by women in the workplace. Both emerging and executive leaders will participate in facilitated discussions with like-minded participants and hear from fascinating speakers.  [Please click on the above link for registration and other information on the program.]

• BC Library Reception at UBCM (October 1, 2009) As in years past, BCLTA and partners (BCLA and ABCPLD) will host a Library Reception in conjunction with the annual Union of BC Municipalities Convention.  This year's reception will be held at the Vancouver Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in the MacKenzie Room from 4:30-6:30 pm.   This is an excellent opportunity for members of the library community to meet informally with UBCM delegates from around BC and to celebrate local government support of public libraries.  Ike Barber of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre at UBC will deliver a keynote speech on the economic contribution libraries make to their communities, and we anticipate greetings from provincial and federal elected representatives as well.  We welcome all UBCM delegates and members of the library community to join us.  If you would like additional information about the reception please contact admin@bclta.org.

BCLTA welcomes the submission of upcoming events of interest to trustees.  Please send notice to Errin Morrison at execdirector@bclta.org to have your event included in next week’s bulletin.

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MEMBER INFORMATION REQUESTS

• CivicInfo BC is currently updating its library of community photos that are illustrated on the CivicInfo website.  Why not submit a photo of your library to be included in the rotation of community images?  Help keep libraries top of mind with our local elected officials!  Forward a shot of your library to info@civicinfo.bc.ca. 


• BCLTA is looking to update its Strategic Planning Resources webpage at www.bclta.org.  Please contact Errin Morrison at execdirector@bclta.org if you have experience with a project consultant who provided excellent facilitation of your strategic planning process – or if you know of, and would recommend to other library boards, a company or person working in this field.
  
  
• BCLTA is interested in gathering examples of small library budgets to establish a best-practices repository for member use.  If you would be willing to share your budget for use as an example, please contact Errin Morrison at execdirector@bclta.org.  Anonymized budget documents are welcome.

Do you have an information need, issue or concern you’d like to put to the larger trustee community?  If so, consider submitting a member information request to Errin Morrison at execdirector@bclta.org.  Often our best resource is each other!

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ADVERTISEMENTS

Advertising in BCLTA’s Open Door newsletter, weekly member bulletin and website is now available to businesses, consulting firms and others who provide goods and services of interest to library trustees and public libraries.  Please contact Errin Morrison at execdirector@bclta.org for information on BCLTA advertising criteria and pricing.

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