Yukon

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

PTLDC Annual Reports Index

Mandate

To support the growth and development of Yukon people, associations, and communities by providing community educational opportunities and resources through public libraries.

Legislation

Yukon Public Libraries Act & Regulations (1987)
Yukon Financial Administration Act, Library Privileges and Fees Regulations (1987)

Structure

Public Libraries are a unit of the Community Development Branch of the Department of Community Services.

Public Libraries manage a network of a central library and 14 distributed community libraries and co-ordinates public library services throughout Yukon and:

• Administers public libraries legislation and provides consultative advice, training and expert assistance to community library boards and their staff;
• Provides direct and indirect financial and other support to 14 community library boards to enable them to operate community libraries throughout Yukon;
• Facilitates the Whitehorse Public Library Board and the Friends of Whitehorse Public Library (FOWL);
• Operates Whitehorse Public Library as a central library and resource centre;
• Manages the Yukon Public Libraries library automation system;
• Plans for and implements new technologies and initiatives;
• Promotes co-operation and resource sharing among Yukon Public Libraries and with Yukon and other libraries;
• Works on behalf of public libraries with government and the private sector; and
• Provides leadership at territorial and national levels on issues relating to public libraries.

Finances/Grants

Public Libraries funds community library boards through contribution agreements to enable them to hire and pay staff to operate community libraries. Funding has been historically provided using a population-based formula to calculate opening hours for community libraries. In 2002, additional hours were added to the base for some community libraries to reflect increased community use.

Contribution agreements for 2005/2006 total $330,000. In addition, Public Libraries provide collections, supplies, furnishings, and equipment, computers, high speed Internet access and space to community libraries. Centralised cataloguing, distribution, interlibrary loans, reference services, programming, and promotion assist in maintaining the Yukon Public Libraries system.

Public Libraries Administration and Whitehorse Public Library are line items in the Department of Community Services budget with O&M funding of $1,556,000 for 2005/2006 for the full library programme (including the contribution agreements described above).

Programmes and Services

• Network of central library and 14 community libraries provides public library access throughout Yukon. 99% of population is directly reached through local library service.
• Special collections include Northern materials, literacy, large print, CNIB, and talking books.
• Services include public computer and Internet access, adaptive computer technology for the disabled, audio-visual hardware rental service and public meeting rooms.
• Programmes include storytimes, school visits, exam proctoring and readings, workshops and related activities for all ages.

Activities – Network and Automation

• High-speed Internet access is available in all Yukon Public Libraries through the Connect Yukon initiative.
• An upgrade to the library automation system, Library.Solution, took place in 04/05. A major enhancement is patron access to their circulation records and the ability to renew materials and place holds through the on-line PAC. Full access to the real-time PAC provides up to the minute information. Access to the automated circulation will be provided in community libraries in 05/06.

Activities – Literary Programmes

• Writer in Residence – The Writer in Residence programme is very popular with the Yukon public who otherwise have limited opportunities to consult with established writers, and the programme has led to the production of an incredible array of books, articles and periodicals by Yukoners. A local residency will be available in 05/06 to continue this programme.
• The semi-annual Writers Summit sponsored by Public Libraries brings together potential and published writers to discuss issues of mutual concern and is an outgrowth of the Writer in Residence Programme.
• The Literary Readings programme, co-funded with the Canada Council for the Arts, brings Yukon people in contact with writers from across the country. Tomson Highway was our spokesperson for Yukon Library Week in October and Aubrey Davis provided us with a delightful week of storytelling programmes in September.
• The Yukon Writers Festival, Live Words, takes place each spring with events in Whitehorse and some communities. The 2005 festival included authors Al Pope, Joan MacLeod, Steven Galloway, Julie Czerneda, Ronald Wright and Andrew Pyper. Capacity audiences once again greeted this all-star line-up. The writers participated in public readings and workshops, a literary cabaret in Haines Junction and the Young Authors' Conference for high school students throughout Yukon.
• Literacy – Public Libraries partners with the Yukon Literacy Coalition to promote literacy initiatives in Yukon Public Libraries, including Family Literacy Day and the annual Yukon Literacy Summit.
• Summer Reading Programme – Yukon Public Libraries participate in the national summer reading programme co-ordinated by the National Library of Canada with support from TD Bank. Great interest is already being shown in this year's other worlds theme and we anticipate a successful programme.
• The Berton House Retreat is a highly coveted opportunity for mid-career Canadian writers to spend two months in retreat at the Berton House, Pierre Berton's childhood home in historic Dawson City. The Dawson City Library Board act as the local hosts and Public Libraries participates on the organising committee. Library readings in Dawson City and Whitehorse by each incumbent enable the public to benefit from these writers' experience.
• Book Club Kits assist local book groups in finding selections for group discussions. One group started out as a senior's programme sponsored by the City of Whitehorse and has now devolved into a library programme.
• Children's storytime kits are themed for different age groups and interests and provide resource materials for community libraries.

New Initiatives

• Friends of the Whitehorse Library (FOWL) was inaugurated in 2004 as an offshoot of the Whitehorse Public Library Board in order to participate in community initiatives and assist with library programmes. The group's registered charity status will benefit its fund-raising abilities.

Web Links

• Yukon Public Libraries web page:
  http://www.community.gov.yk.ca/libraries/index.html
• Yukon Libraries Public Access Catalogue:
  http://www.pac.gov.yk.ca/

Statistics (2004/2005)

• Yukon Population 31,127: Whitehorse Public Library serves 23,205 people directly and circulated 114,770 items (note: closure due to renovations, winter 2005); 14 community libraries serve 7,808 people (in communities with populations from 56 to 1811) and circulated 52,213 items.
• 10,647 items were processed and 11,730 items were distributed to Whitehorse and community libraries.
• 273,182 people visited Whitehorse Public Library. 5,923 people attended programmes in Whitehorse and 5,074 did likewise in community libraries.
• 22,463 reference questions were answered throughout Yukon Public Libraries, and 1,389 requests were filled for material located outside the Yukon.
• 23,598 people booked Internet/computer sessions in Whitehorse Public Library, and 25,393 accessed this service in 14 community libraries.

PTLDC Annual Reports Index