/
/
/
/
/
Library board gets an earful from public

Library board gets an earful from public

VANCOUVER—The message at last night’s Vancouver Public Library (VPL) board meeting was loud and clear: members of the public love their libraries and don’t want to see their cherished services reduced or eliminated to meet the City of Vancouver’s budget shortfalls.

“I was extremely proud of our communities, of how they rose up to defend public libraries,” said CUPE 391 president Alex Youngberg. “Some of the most interesting comments were from people who were very articulate in expressing how the Riley Park branch is a living room for their community.”

The staff lounge at the VPL’s Central branch was filled to the limit, with about 150 people showing up to hear the board justify its proposed operating budget for 2010.

The proposed closure of the Riley Park branch was clearly the hot button issue. Of the dozen delegations who presented to the board, most expressed serious concern that local residents had not been consulted in any way before the VPL’s recommendation was made public.

In CUPE 391’s presentation, executive member Randy Gatley stressed that the library’s unionized staff provides virtually all of its public services.

“The cuts have been disproportionate,” he said. “Since 2006, exempt staff has grown by 35 per cent.”

CUPE 391 is recommending that the burden of budget shortfalls be shared with exempt staff through attrition or retirement. The Local is also calling for an independent external review of exempt staffing levels.

By the end of the meeting the VPL board voted to reduce branch operating hours at up to 14 branches to save $349,000 and directed management to identify an additional $166,000 reduction in the budget that could result in the closure of the Riley Park Branch “or reductions in other areas”.

It also voted to close the Central Library for an additional three hours per week and reduce the related staffing budgets for savings of $419,000, cut the Technical Services budget by $360,000 and the Collections budget by $180,000, and trim administrative costs by $100,000.

CUPE 391 has been told, however, that cataloguing, barcoding, and other preparation of materials for shelf readiness will remain in house—a positive development that Youngberg attributes in part to “CUPE Writers Fest”, an event held at the VPL last month in which five local authors and media commentator Bill Tieleman spoke to the value of locally-provided library services.

Youngberg will be the first speaker among the delegations addressing City Council on December 3. The final budget will be approved on December 18.

cope491
Share this

Latest News

Budget 2024 tackles economic uncertainty with investments in public services and affordability – CUPE BC

Budget 2024 tackles economic uncertainty with investments in public services and affordability – CUPE BC

February 22, 2024
VICTORIA— Budget 2024 continues the BC NDP’s record of making meaningful investments in the public services that matter to people and communities, and creating and expanding programs that make life…
VICTORIA— Budget 2024 continues the BC NDP’s record of making meaningful investments in the public services that matter to people and communities, and creating and expanding programs that make life...

District of Chetwynd workers ratify new contract

District of Chetwynd workers ratify new contract

February 15, 2024
CHETWYND – After a collaborative round of negotiations CUPE 3052 members, municipal workers in the District of Chetwynd, have overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year contract. The new agreement includes wage…
CHETWYND – After a collaborative round of negotiations CUPE 3052 members, municipal workers in the District of Chetwynd, have overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year contract. The new agreement includes wage...

CUPE 1978 ratifies new agreement with Greater Victoria Housing Society

CUPE 1978 ratifies new agreement with Greater Victoria Housing Society

February 13, 2024
VICTORIA – CUPE 1978 members at the Greater Victoria Housing Society have ratified a new five-year agreement that provides improved working conditions for CUPE members, as well as enhanced supportive housing…
VICTORIA – CUPE 1978 members at the Greater Victoria Housing Society have ratified a new five-year agreement that provides improved working conditions for CUPE members, as well as enhanced supportive housing...