The Sechelt Library will be reducing hours open to the public by three hours per week, opening Wednesdays at 1 p.m. instead of 10 a.m. The change in hours begins on Wednesday, Jan. 24.
In a press release, the library said its board and staff “regret this step – however, the reduced open hours of 51 hours per week still exceed the 42 hours per week specified in the memorandum of understanding … negotiated with the District of Sechelt, SCRD and SIGD in 2013.”
The library said in-person visits are increasing by approximately 10,000 people each year and with the increased traffic, a new inter-library loan service, and the popularity of new programs, staff struggle to keep up with the workload.
“Only a small amount of the work needed to run the library is seen by the public,” said chief librarian Margaret Hodgins. “In 2017, the staff responded to over 40,000 questions, processed over 8,000 interlibrary loans, and provided many quality programs for both children and adults that were enjoyed by over 3,000 participants.”
There will be no reduction in staff hours, she added. “Staff will be at the library catching up on work that they are struggling to complete during open hours.”
In 2017, the Sechelt Library created a report, “Five Year Funding Agreement Analysis Between Local Government Funders and the Sechelt Library,” that compares local government funding for the library compared to other public libraries on the Sunshine Coast and across B.C. The report is available on the library’s website: sechelt.bc.libraries.coop.
– Submitted
