Manitoba Public Library Services

Annual Report
Provincial and Territorial Library Directors Council (PTLDC) 2005

PTLDC Annual Reports Index

Mandate

Through the Public Libraries Act, the role of the Public Library Services Branch (PLS) is to ensure that all Manitobans have access to public library services. The branch fulfills this role by administering departmental policy and provincial legislation; providing consultative support and training to libraries and boards; technical services to public libraries and circulation services from a central library

Legislation

Public Libraries Act (C.C.S.M. c. P220)

Structure

In Manitoba it is the responsibility of local municipal corporations to determine the format of public library service in their communities. The Act allows for the creation of municipal libraries, regional libraries and library federations. Winnipeg Public Library is a unique case, as it also falls under jurisdiction of the City of Winnipeg Act.

Library funding in Manitoba follows one of the following two formulae: The Province provides the City of Winnipeg an amount equal to 11% of their operating budget up to $1,910,118, while rural and northern Public Libraries receive a matching $8.50 per capita grant. This amount was increased from $7.50 in 2003/04, while the collection development grant provided for purchase of electronic and print materials was increased from to $5500 from $5,000 for each library branch or book mobile. Additionally, a $1000 collection development grant was created in $2003/4 to support libraries in bilingual communities, and those north of the 53rd.

With library establishment the responsibility of individual municipal corporations, Manitoba's development is unique, with the majority of library regions consisting of less then three branches. Manitoba has 55 library systems (regions) for a total 108 public library sites. Each of the 54 rural library systems has a separate governing board. In the case of Winnipeg Public Library, the library is administered directly by the City of Winnipeg and is limited to an advisory board. Despite ongoing library establishment, 1 in 6 Manitobans still reside in a community without a public library. These individuals are eligible for the Public Library Services free books-by-mail program (Open Shelf), as well as a rotating block of up to 500 books stationed in their community.

An integral part of the Manitoba library system is the Public Library Services branch (PLS) which has maintained many of the traditional provincial library service roles. PLS has a large central public library collection (200,000 items) accessible to libraries through ILL (MAPLIN), block rotations, as well as the books-by-mail service. PLS rotates blocks of large print, audio books, videos/DVDs, literacy materials, and French language materials to all public libraries outside of Winnipeg. PLS provides public libraries outside of Winnipeg with reference services and national ILL searches. As most public libraries in Manitoba do not have library professionals on staff, PLS provides ongoing training and consulting services.

Finances/Grants

2004-2005 annual budget allocation to Manitoba Public Library Service by the Department of Culture, Heritage and Tourism: $6,437,900.

PLS Grant Contributions:
Winnipeg Public Library: $1,910,118
Rural and Northern Public Libraries: $2,956,400
Associations: MLA $5,300 MLTA $1,200 MALT $1,500 MSLA. $1,400
Canadian Children's Book Centre $3,600

Activities - Network and Automation

Recent improvements in networking and automation include:

• The Province signed an agreement with Dynix to replace the provincial library automation system (MAPLIN). Dynix is also the automation vendor for the Province's two largest public library systems in Brandon and Winnipeg. Implementation commenced March, 2005 and is expected to be completed by September, 2005.
• Manitobia.ca is a digitization project providing full text searching of over 100,000 pages of newsprint, diary papers, photos, maps and letters. The project was a cooperative effort of libraries and archives that are part of the Manitoba Library Consortium Inc.
• Innovative rural public libraries have adapted wireless technology, and are acting as community hot spots for PDA and laptop users.

Activities - Other Developments

Public Library Services:
PLS filled 17,060 ILLs and circulated over 146,000 items in 2004/05.

Library System Review:
A board committee of interest has been asked to develop a long-term province-wide strategy for the Public Libraries in Manitoba.

Battle of the Books:
Manitoba public libraries ran another successful Battle of the Books, a campaign to increase circulation and library visibility. The province was divided into regional teams to out read the previous champions. The winning region achieved a 4.49% increase in circulation and the defending champions placed with a decent 2.6%. The provincial "Battle" resulted in a general circulation increase of 2 % over 2003.

MB Public Library Statistics:
PLS published the 2003 Annual Statistics Report and modified the presentation of provincial statistical information.

PTLDC Annual Reports Index