January 3, 1989

Honourable Rita Johnston

Minister of Municipal Affairs,
Recreation and Culture

Province of British Columbia

Parliament Buildings

Victoria, B.C. V8V 1x4

Dear Madam Minister:

At a recent meeting of , the
Provincial Government grant to the Fraser Valley Regional
Library was discussed. [t was noted that in the period 1980
~ 88, the Provincial Government grant as a percentage of the
library budget had decreased from 17.3% to 14.26%. Caring
that time there has been no increase in the funding formula,
merely increases for increased population figures in the
1981 and 1986 census. This has resulted in the member
municipalities and school boards carrying an ever increasing
portion of the library budget.

The New Approaches Task Force on Public Libraries made
recommendations in this area that seem to us valid and
worthy of your support. At this time, we would particularly
urge you to support and implement the following
recommendations of the Task Force -

1.1 We recommend that the per capita grant for the
acquisition of library materials be increased by 30
percent to restore the historic 15:85 percent balance
between Provincial and local government funding of
public libraries.

1.2 We recommend that the ber capita grant for the
acquisition of library materials be adjusted annually
to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index.

1.12 We recommend that all public libraries be exempt from
Provincial Sales Tax,

~ aS these seem to be the recommendations most concerned
with the issue of Ongoing Provincial Government financial
Support of public libraries. ;

Yours sincerely,

-
ei |