Strathmore Library details impact of regular funding shortages

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Strathmore Municipal Library has adjusted its operating hours, as well as its programming in response to the funding which has been made available to them. 

During the Town of Strathmore’s budget deliberations, the library submitted a community group funding request of $425,698 of the town. Of this, $385,000 was approved to support library operations through 2025. 

This represented a 0.98 per cent increase in funding over last year. 

“Our main goal with our funding request was to increase our staffing to reach an essential level as identified in the Alberta Government’s Best Practices for Public Libraries document,” said Ann Horn, chair of the library board. “We are currently staffed just under six full-time employees and the essential level for our population is 7.2 full-time employees. More staffing would allow us to offer more programs. We are not yet able to meet the community’s need for early literacy programming.”

Horn added additional staffing would allow the library to offer a broader range of programs for patrons of all ages and maintain a greater presence within the local community. 

In order to avoid cutting hours from existing library staff, the library has elected to not fill vacant positions for 2025. Additionally, a priority has been given to bringing staff wages up to meet averages in comparable libraries.

During the town’s 2025 budget deliberations, Coun. Melissa Langmaid, who also sits on the library board, indicated 81 per cent of the library’s budget is utilized to finance employee wages and associated expenses.

In order to maintain the library’s ongoing agreement with the Marigold Library System, 11 per cent of the budget is transferred there.

Costs to the library are rising more quickly than regular funding allowances. Similarly, use of the library and its resources continues to grow on an annual basis. Throughout 2024, the library hosted nearly 64,000 visitors who utilized their services, and/ or participated in programs. 

The library now closes its doors to the public at 4 p.m. on Mondays, in addition to being closed entirely on Mondays during the summer months. The facility will continue to remain open until 8 p.m. on Tuesdays through Thursdays. 

Additionally, the library will be closed on the Saturdays of long weekends, as those occasions typically do not see heavy traffic in the facility. 

“We are doing our best to meet community needs as much as possible while facing the reality that our costs are rising more quickly than our funding,” said Horn. “We have adjusted programming, prioritizing literacy-based programs. The public might notice fewer one-off programs on Flex Fridays and a reduction in other non-literacy focused programs.”

While the board is actively engaged in fundraising efforts to supplement the library’s finances, Horn added it is not a reliable source of revenue for operating costs. 

An ideal scenario would see fundraising revenue directed towards extras such as a self-checkout station, new shelving and furniture, upgrading technology and computers, or to be spent on program supplies. 

The library reported throughout 2024, a total of $9,288.83 was raised through individual fundraising initiatives and general donations.

The idea of establishing a memorandum of agreement between the town and the library board for a more consistent funding model in future years was suggested during the town’s budget deliberations, though has not yet been explored further. 

“We always appreciate attending Community Delegation Night. There are so many worthy organizations in Strathmore working very hard to make the community better, and it is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our community partners,” added Horn. “We were grateful to receive the support we did from the town, knowing that they have so many opportunities to invest in the community with limited funds available.”

For those who are interested in helping out at the library or contributing to the facility, the team is always looking for more volunteers.

Through 2025, the library will be working on a new plan of service to determine their direction for the next three to five years. Community input will be solicited for this, and the team hopes to hear from as many members of the local community as possible.