Whereas the provincial funding for public libraries is currently based on population levels from 31 years ago, which fails to reflect the substantial growth and has led to a decrease in the value of the province's investment by over 60%; the Municipality of Clarington Council wishes to draw your attention to the report of 2023 from the Canadian Urban Institute, “Overdue: The Case for Canada’s Public Libraries” which emphasizes the pivotal role libraries play in various aspects of community life, including knowledge distribution, culture, health, reconciliation, belonging, and our democracy;
And whereas libraries and museums, situated at the heart of our communities, serve as multifaceted institutions catering to diverse needs;
And whereas, the Clarington Public Library, Museums and Archives (CLMA) provide essential services such as election information centres, job search facilities, health clinics, language learning centres for newcomers, and spaces for educational and community events;
And whereas every month, 204,000 Canadians obtain job-seeking help at their library and, every month, 16,000 Canadians access training classes at their library;
And whereas, over 6,000 lbs of food was distributed through the CLMA in 2023;
And whereas libraries, as Auditor Generals of every order of government repeatedly cite, public libraries have the highest return on investment of any publicly funded program;
And whereas every dollar invested in the CLMA results in $7.45 in benefits;
And whereas the average annual savings by using the CLMA is $743.73;
And whereas, while over 90% of library and museum funding comes from local municipal governments, provincial operating funding is crucial for providing stability to budgets, especially in times of inflation, technological changes, and increasing demands on libraries as community hubs;
And whereas Cultural institutions, particularly museums, play a vital role in shaping and preserving our community's identity;
And whereas cultural institutions contribute to tourism, social participation, senior well-being, skill-building, and learning;
And whereas, as the largest government funder for most of Ontario's smaller museums, municipalities create value in their communities through the work of these institutions;
And whereas recognizing these institutions as national assets and strategically investing in their potential will contribute significantly to renewing post-pandemic social cohesion, economic well-being, and community resilience;
Now therefore be it resolved that the Municipality of Clarington Council urges the Provincial Government to consider increasing the Public Library Operating Grant (PLOG) and the Community Museum Operating Grant (CMOG) to both public libraries and community museums to address critical shared priorities and community needs; and
That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, local MPPs, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), and the Clarington Public Library, Museums and Archives Board.