Hope you’re all keeping warm during this cold snap! We’ve been busy over at FOPL and I have a few updates to share.
This week we submitted our Pre-Budget Submission for the 2025-26 budget cycle to the Ministry of Finance (attached). The document highlights the need for increased funding and support for public libraries through the creation of an Ontario Digital Public Library and an increase to the Public Libraries Operating Grant. In preparation of this submission we have been coordinating deputations to the Ministry of Finance and the Stranding Committee on Economic Affairs and Finance. Starting somewhat suddenly at the end of November (indicating a potential call for an early provincial election), we have presented 11 times on behalf of public libraries, featuring representation from public libraries local to those travelling deputations. A big thank you to those library CEOs across the province who presented on behalf of libraries and highlighted the impact our provincial priorities would have on their libraries and communities. Our work cannot be successful without us working together towards our shared goals. We still have a few more deputations in the coming weeks (I’ll be in Stouffville on Monday presenting to the Standing Committee) but the message is clear; our provincial stakeholders want to hear from us.
Conversations with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming are also ongoing and going well. We regularly communicate with both the minister’s office and the staffing side of the ministry and I believe we’ve had some productive conversations regarding our priorities. Interest in the Ontario Digital Public Library remains high and we’ve moved on from introductory meetings on the ODPL to more detailed conversations on logistics and content. These conversations are promising and lead us to believe we’re headed in the right direction. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to reach out to their local MPPs to talk about our provincial priorities. It’s very much appreciated!
Our 2025 conference stretch is also underway. FOPL attended the Rural Ontario Municipal Conference earlier this week with Brooke McLean, CEO of Bruce County Public Library and current ARUPLO Chair. We had some excellent engagement with municipal councillors and MPPs who were there to hear deputations from rural municipalities. I was able to have quick chats with Minister Dave Smith (Mines), Minister Piccini (Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development), and Minister Cho (Tourism, Culture and Gaming) as well as several others. Support from municipal councillors for the ODPL is growing, with some choosing to add information about the ODPL in their deputations after their visit to the tradeshow booth, while the call for increase PLOG funding remains at the top of municipal priorities. Minister Cho communicated that he heard a fair number of deputations during the conferences asking for an increase to PLOG funding.
FOPL will be at the OLA SuperConference next week so I’ll be around as usual and we’ll have a booth in the tradeshow so stop by and say hi!
Dina Stevens
Executive Director