WESTLOCK — The Yellowhead Regional Library (YRL) presented their annual report to councillors during the Sept. 26 Town of Westlock regular meeting and provided an overview of the past year.
In their presentation, board chair Hendrik Smit and executive director Karla Palichuk spoke about changes this year, including those surrounding memberships, resources, collections and programs, and finances.
They were joined for the virtual presentation, by Westlock Library board chair Kathy Kieser and interim library director Lorisia MacLeod.
Palichuk said the YRL is the second oldest library system in the province that was established in 1971, with Parkland being the oldest regional system formed in 1959.
“We were the only two until the mid-1980s (when) three others came on board and the regional library system structure was complete in the mid-1990s,” she said, noting they serve a population of more than 306,000 members today and continue to grow “because we have five of the 10 fastest growing communities in Alberta as members.”
Highlights from the 2022 annual report detailed new and larger collections for libraries to borrow, including new makerspace equipment.
“We’ve done a lot around enhancing cyber security protocols for Yellowhead and for the member libraries,” said Palichuk, adding it included password managers and cyber security training. “We take this responsibility very seriously and we’ve done a lot to make sure that our network is safe.”
Another highlight was the purchase of “the Librarians Guide to Homelessness” — a collection of 35 videos to help library staff understand how to work with people who are in trauma and who are experiencing the impact of homelessness.
“Providing the libraries and their staff with these tools means they will be better prepared if and when they have to address a need,” she said, noting other purchased resources included Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute training.
A total of 1.4 million items were moved from headquarters to the libraries, said Palichuk, adding “there is still a huge demand for print items.”
The YRL is in the first year of their two-year Strategic Plan (2023-2025), which is focused on four goals that include the YRL as a hub for learning and connection, providing quality information and resources, sharing knowledge and skills and being an excellent place to work.
“We did a lot of advocacy work through 2022 and 2023 which resulted, in my experience working with public libraries in the largest single increase to public library funding that the province has ever given,” said Palichuk. “We’ve never (received) three out of four of our major asks before.”
Levies
Smit provided a financial update and noted current levies and increases since 2020.
“In 2008-2019 we did not raise our rates a cent,” he said, noting small increases since then. “Every year it’s going to be the two to three per cent increase until we get ourselves back where it is.”
Half of YRL’s funding comes from the provincial government through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs public library service branch (PLSB) and half comes from the member municipalities, he said.
“There is a balance there, so the administration of YRL is done through the grant through PLSB and through Municipal Affairs and the services they provide go through the levies that are charged to each member municipality,” explained Smit. “Right now we are taking (17 per cent) from our admin side to help pay for the services that we provide. It’s going to take a few years to get us back (but) we are the lowest per capita cost in the province. The nearest one is nearly double what you guys are paying right now.”
Those levies ranged from $4.30 per capita from 2008-2019, $4.39 per capita in 2020 and $4.46 per capita in 2021-2022. Current rates are at $4.54 per capita in 2023 and the YRL returns 75 cents per capita to the Westlock Library to purchase library materials.
Other financials presented included the Westlock Library Board’s membership levy, which came in at $31, 706, financial return for materials totalled $9,419 and the cost avoidance totalled $906,783, indicating how much the library saves using the regional system and the products they provide.
“This in turn gives us a return on investment for every dollar spent within the library setting, is nearly $29 when it comes to getting materials, finding courses for your librarians to do.”
Library patrons have access to more than three million items and digital materials, through the YRL network including eBooks, eAudiobooks and music albums, said Palichuk, as well as access to free broadband internet through Supernet and Wi-fi.
“We were the original founding member of the Regional Automation Society, which was formed in 1994 and it is through our partnerships that brings these resources into your community.”
