How Are We Funded?

One of the questions we are most frequently asked is: If I live in Blue Mountains (or Wasaga or Clearview), can I get a library card at the Collingwood Public Library?

The short answer is: Yes, of course. 

But there is a caveat; you will have to pay for it.

Why?  The reason goes back to how public libraries are funded.   In Ontario, most of the funding for public libraries comes directly from municipal property taxes.  In our case, about 92% of our operating funds come from the Town of Collingwood.  The “free” public library, therefore, isn’t really free.  We all pay for it out of our municipal tax dollars.  It seems reasonable then, under these circumstances, to ask people living outside of the municipality to pay a non-resident membership fee—in our case, $120.00 per year.  This seems like a lot of money until you consider how much a book, even an eBook, costs these days.  Then it seems like a steal.

So if 92% of our funding comes from the municipality, where does the rest of the money come from? It comes from a variety of sources, such as donations, federal and provincial grants, overdue fines, photocopying fees, and room rental fees.

Is it worth the money?  Of course.  The Collingwood Public Library is the busiest municipal building in the Town of Collingwood.  On average, 600 people pass through our doors every day.  Forty-three percent of Collingwood residents have library cards. The library is well-used. 

Do public libraries benefit the local economy? Recently, the Toronto Public Library commissioned an economic impact study to ask just that question.  They concluded that for every dollar invested in the Toronto Public Library, Torontonians received $5.63 in return. (You can read the full report here).  Does Collingwood receive a similar benefit from the presence of its library?  Without a doubt.  But I think that most people support public libraries for more intangible reasons.