Okanagan Regional Library Board Highlights from October 15th, 2014
Budget 2015
The ORL Board approved the 2015 Budget as presented. An overall 1.72% increase was proposed ($291,850), the majority of which comes from negotiated wage increases and inflationary items, including mandatory increases to Municipal Pension Plan rates. In 2013, the library experienced a surge in program attendance of 12.6% and an increase in reference transactions (many of which are related to help with ebooks and other devices) of 9.4%. In response, the budget includes minor service and training improvements related to programs and staff training on dealing with people who have questions related to technology.
Oliver Branch Update
It was announced to the board that after extensive review it was decided that the Oliver Branch will remain in the same location, with the same square footage.
New Integrated Library System
CEO Stephanie Hall presented information to the board on the new Integrated Library System (ILS) which is now in effect. This new system replaces the current system, which no longer serves the library’s needs. Patrons will notice a change in their on-line accounts. Any questions or concerns can be sent to info@orl.bc.ca. For more information, please visit www.orl.bc.ca.
Community Foundations
The ORL Board passed a resolution instructing staff to invest up to $25,000 in the appropriate community foundations within the ORL service area. The will allow patrons and library supporters to make bequests to the library that will help support programs and services in perpetuity.
Summer Reading Club
The Board received a final report about the 2014 Summer Reading Club, a system wide program that encourages reading for school age children and helps prevent summer learning loss. The theme of the Summer Reading Club is set provincially and this year was “Funny Business”, an exciting one for staff to plan and children to participate in. Program attendance increase by 7% over 2013 with 9529 children taking part. 219 programs were offered. A system wide entertainer, Magician Leif David, visited all 29 branches thanks to generous funding by the Friends of the Library. His program featured the magic of libraries and of reading and was well received in all communities. The Royal Bank donated the Summer Reading Club medals and many other local businesses provided prizes for children that had completed their reading logs.
BC Library Trustee Association
Director Lisa Cameron reported that members of the BCLTA were able to meet with Minister Peter Fassbender at UBCM. The Minister confirmed $14 million dollars a year in funding to BC libraries for the next three years, as a separate line item in his ministry’s budget. Minister Fassbender would like libraries to work more closely with education institutes and there are currently 20 pilot projects going on in the province. He also asked that library trustees bring forward the message of the value of libraries to their local MLAs.