Camrose Public LIbrary service levels reduced

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4705-41 St., Camrose • Ph. 780-608-WOOD (9663) Camrose Public Library service levels reduced due to budget cutbacks

By Lori Larsen

Now that 2023 has arrived, organizations throughout the City face the challenge of operating on reduced budgets. Camrose Public Library (CPL) continues to be a main hub for residents and visitors, offering services and programs for all ages.

“As our community continues to recover from the far-reaching effects of the pandemic, Camrose Public Library is becoming busier and busier,” said CPL director Alyssa Martin. “Unfortunately, inflation and other funding challenges mean our annual budget is no longer sufficient for us to continue to provide the same level of service.”

Martin explained that in comparison to the 2019 Camrose Public Library’s budget, the 2023 budget is 15.3 per cent smaller. “And costs have only increased.”

As a result of this funding shortfall, CPL will be making some reductions in 2023, including the opening hours.

Beginning January 2, CPL open hours are as follows: Sundays closed; Mondays to Thursdays, 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.; Fridays 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Saturdays will remain the same, 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Along with the reduced opening hours, CPL is reducing collection spending.

“Thanks to the generous $17,500 grant from the Battle River Community Foundation’s Ross and Denise Irving Fund, we did not have to cut our collection spending completely,” noted Martin.

In addition to the changes in opening hours and collection, the reduction in funding has prevented CPL from recovering staff positions that were cut during the pandemic, and the budget for running classes and events is 33 per cent smaller than previous funding levels.

“Despite these challenges, CPL is committed to working our hardest and providing the community with the highest quality of help we can,” said Martin.

“That help will just be available for fewer hours in 2023.”

According to Martin, most of the current programs and services will remain, including the Tech one-on-one help, delivering collection items to those in assisted living facilities, the early literacy program and summer reading program which will once again be brought to the public via our Book Bike.

“We will also continue to offer our Snacks in the Stacks program, where we are able to feed children after school and provide them with a fun activity five days a week. This program would not be possible without donations from our community partners.”

For complete details on the programs and services offered at Camrose Public Library visit the website at cpl.prl.ab.ca.

Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster

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