Okanagan Regional Library to address imbalances between communities

The Okanagan Regional Library is working through a series of changes to restore fiscal balance between its member communities.  The ORL Board periodically conducts targeted reviews of different aspects of the library operation, and, in 2013, the board contracted the auditing firm Grant Thornton to take a look at expenditures versus revenue for each individual member community across the ORL.  The report found that spending in some communities was out of alignment with tax revenue received, and the board directed management to create a plan to address this.

CEO Stephanie Hall drafted a staffing level plan for branches where spending needed to be reduced, and has created a process where both unions and individual branches can provide input into the plan. In many cases, this input will result in modifications to the plan.  Once this work is complete, a finalized plan for each of those communities will be shared with local government, a press release issued, and then the ORL will be hoping to hear from all interested parties about their views and library service needs.

Changes in staffing level under the plan would be implemented over multiple years, as opportunities arise.  In addition to local and centralized staffing, ORL is also reviewing other spending areas, including facilities costs and centralized services.

Hall acknowledges that this is a difficult process.  “There is no doubt that these are tough questions.  Public libraries and our incredible staff are hugely valued in communities.  With over a hundred and fifty thousand library members, our service is one of the most-used  public services communities offer.  At the same time, the ORL is committed to fiscal transparency and fairness, and by moving pro-actively to align costs with revenue across communities, we’re living up to our commitments to local government, who are our major funders.”

The Okanagan Regional Library stretches from Golden to Osoyoos, serving 25 member jurisdictions at 29 service locations. Membership in the Okanagan Regional Library provides access to over 750,000 items and a robust array of online and in person services.

Public interest in library offerings appears to be on the rise, with the ORL noting a 12% increase in program attendance and a 56% increase in free downloads of ebooks, audiobooks, music and magazines in 2013.

The original Grant Thornton ‘Financial Allocation Model Analysis”  (FAMA) report can be found at www.orl.bc.ca/about-us.