Public libraries play an important role in communities across British Columbia, and ensuring they have the resources to meet evolving community needs requires continued advocacy and collaboration. At this year’s Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Convention, representatives from the Okanagan Regional Library joined library leaders from across the province to raise awareness of the needs of public libraries and advocate for increased provincial funding and support.
ORL representatives met with two provincial ministers and four groups of provincial ministry staff, including representatives from Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, Social Development and Poverty Reduction, Health, and Housing and Municipal Affairs. These conversations provided an opportunity to speak directly with provincial decision-makers about the role libraries play in communities throughout the ORL service area and the importance of sustainable support for public library services.
“At this year’s Union of BC Municipalities Convention, the ORL Board was able to meet with two provincial ministers and four sets of provincial ministry staff to advocate for more funding and supports for public libraries,” said ORL CEO Danielle Hubbard. “It was a busy week, where valuable connections were made all around.”
Through continued advocacy and collaboration, the ORL works to ensure the needs of our communities and public libraries are represented at the provincial level.
Photo (left to right): Corinne Boback, Administrative Services Manager, Okanagan Regional Library; Adrienne Fedrigo, ORL Policy & Planning Committee Chair and Director of Area “E,” Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen; the Honourable Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction; Tasha Da Silva, ORL Board Chair and City of West Kelowna Councillor; and Danielle Hubbard, CEO, Okanagan Regional Library.
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