HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2019-06-06, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2019.
While the provincial government
has moved to reinstate the inter-
library loan program it cancelled in
late April, its new form has left
librarians across the province with
many questions.
“Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa
Thompson is happy to announce that
after extensive consultation work,
library users will continue to enjoy
the same level of service as they
have come to expect at their local
libraries, including the reinstatement
of the inter-library loan program,”
reads a press release from
Thompson’s office, issued late
Friday afternoon.
“I know how important this
service is to rural residents and to
my constituents,” Thompson said in
the release.
“This is good news,” she is quoted
as saying in the release. “Local
access to a wide variety of literature
will continue to be available across
the riding.”
In the release, Thompson added
that comments she had received at
her local constituency offices
regarding the value of local library
services were “shared appropriately”
within the provincial government.
Huron County Librarian Beth
Rumble, however, says that what has
been proposed by the provincial
government doesn’t necessarily
replace the previous system and it’s
unclear as to how it will be rolled out
library to library.
Rumble says that libraries will be
provided with a partial postal
subsidy for mailing books to
libraries throughout Ontario
requesting materials. That means the
success of the new iteration of the
program will depend on each library
branch’s level of involvement.
The changes will, however,
preserve the online system libraries
use to co-ordinate the program.
The inter-library loan program
used to be co-ordinated by van
service through the Southern
Ontario Library Service (SOLS)
locally and the Ontario Library
Service – North (OLSN) in northern
Ontario. When the provincial
government cut those organizations’
budgets in half, the loan program
was eliminated as a result.
Now, with a postal credit at the
heart of the program, Rumble says it
remains to be seen whether the
program will be as effective as it
was.
For a participant like Huron
County, which has an approximate
net neutral position, meaning it lends
out close to the same number of
books it receives for library users,
the program makes sense. However,
if a library system sends out far more
items than it receives, because the
government is only offering a partial
credit, that branch may choose not to
participate to the full extent.
Rumble said the program is well-
used in Huron County, with
approximately 3,600 items per year
going out to other libraries and 4,500
received from other libraries.
As the provincial government has
advised Rumble and neighbouring
library systems are working to find
further efficiencies. Early dis-
cussions have taken place in regards
to an unofficial loan program, but
nothing has been confirmed.
In a joint press release from both
northern and southern Ontario
library services, the group said
representatives had worked with the
Ministry of Tourism, Culture and
Sport to revise budgets and find a
solution to reinstate the inter-library
loan program.
In the release, OLSN CEO
Mellissa D’Onofrio-Jones and
SOLS CEO Barbara Franchetto
stated that the goal of the meetings
with the ministry was to focus on the
programs that have the greatest
impact on public libraries and their
users.
“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
release states.
“We will continue to work with
our partners, including local
libraries, library organizations and
the ministry to deliver services that
our communities rely on.”
Rumble left with questions on loan program
An explosive addition
The Clinton Spring Fair took over Central Huron on the weekend, featuring a demolition derby,
a concert featuring David Wilcox and Eric Ethridge and a number of other events over the
course of the weekend, including a midway, tractor pull, baby show and plenty to see at
REACH (the Regional Equine and Agricultural Centre of Huron). One of the fair’s newest
events was mounted shooting at REACH, above. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
@NWMOCanada
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By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen