Increasing Funding for Alberta’s Libraries
IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT Alberta Municipalities advocate for the Government of Alberta to update the per capita rate component of the Public Library Operating Grant formula to $6.94 per person, an increase of $1.34 per person to reflect inflationary increases and commit to indexing the population-based grant using the rate of inflation and the most recent population statistics of the Alberta Municipal Affairs Population Estimate List.
WHEREAS libraries are community hubs that offer free resources, programming, education, and community gathering space, impacting all Albertans;
WHEREAS libraries' ability to meet both basic and expanding range of needs for Alberta’s growing population is increasingly constrained by outdated funding levels;
WHEREAS the annual per capita Public Library Operating Grant of $5.60 per person has increased by only $0.05 or under a one per cent increase since 2016, while inflation, according to Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index in Alberta, has increased by 25 per cent[1];
WHEREAS if indexed to inflation alone, per capita funding in 2024 would have been $6.94 per person;
WHEREAS the per capita funding grant for Alberta’s libraries is currently based on 2019 population data. Alberta’s population has grown by 15 per cent or over 635,000 people between 2019 to 2025; and
WHEREAS a funding increase would directly strengthen Albertan libraries’ ability to address the growing demand for job-seeking and language-learning services; assist newcomers to Alberta; improve digital access province-wide wide especially for remote and rural Albertans; create opportunities for Reconciliation and Indigenous learnings; and expand literacy and learning supports for children.
[1] Statistics Canada. Table 18-10-0005-01 - Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted
Libraries are community pillars offering services to respond to a wide range of community needs through physical and virtual spaces that prioritize accessibility and democratic rights to access information. Library services directly respond to community needs, ranging from literacy at all ages and stages, adult foundational life skills, career planning, mental health, digital equity, newcomer supports, small business development, civic engagement, and more. Due to the highly accessible nature of public libraries, they act as a critical third space (a space other than home, school or work) for Albertans and are often a successful connection point to other urgent services and supports. This means that investing in libraries is one of the best investments we can make to meet our population's complex pressing needs.
Alberta has 324 library service points and nearly 100 per cent of the population has access to a public library[1] either through their local library or digital access for those living in more rural locations. A provincial investment in public libraries can impact all Albertans.
The Government of Alberta has highlighted the importance of supporting economic recovery, reducing barriers to public services, supporting new Albertans, and building foundations for a strong future. In addition, as identified in Outcome 2 in the Municipal Affairs: Ministry Business Plan 2024-2027, a key objective of the government is to “Provide operating grants and capacity supports to Alberta’s public library boards and regional library systems, to ensure Albertans are served by accessible, well-managed, and responsive library services”
Alberta Municipalities has looked at the population aspects of this resolution in the past, including the 2020 resolution, Current Population Funding for Municipal Public Libraries in Alberta, in which the intent was not met. At the fall 2024 ABmunis Convention during the open Question & Answer session with ministers, the City of Calgary put the question of per capita funding to the Minister of Municipal Affairs for consideration in budget 2025, and no changes were made to the funding for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
Rural Municipalities of Alberta have also addressed the inflation issue in the past including the 2016 and 2014 resolutions: Provincial Funding for Municipal Public Libraries and Regional Library Systems and the 2008 resolution: Immediate Increase in Provincial Library Funding Request. Since this time, many municipalities in Alberta have seen a population increase from the “Alberta is Calling” campaign, which, together with inflationary pressures, is impacting public libraries' capacity to deliver the same level of service. The Public Libraries Service Branch instituted a base operating grant to provide base funding that is less variable for slight population fluctuations that can occur in smaller municipalities.
This resolution aligns with Alberta Municipalities 2025 strategic initiative “Municipal Financial Research Strategies: Conduct new research on municipal finances and inform provincial leaders and Albertans about the potential future of Alberta’s communities (e.g., state of infrastructure, level of municipal services, and level of municipal property taxes) if provincial funding for community infrastructure is not significantly increased”.
As stated in the background this resolution aligns with previous ABmunis resolutions. In 2020, the former Minister of Municipal Affairs stated that the budget for libraries was held flat for reasons of fiscal constraint and that the allocations were not adjusted for population changes because library grants would increase for larger communities and decline for more rural communities because of the government’s intent to keep the total funding unchanged.[1]
If this resolution is approved, it will be forwarded to the Government of Alberta for response. Further advocacy will be determined by ABmunis’ Board based on input from ABmunis’ relevant policy committee within the context of ABmunis’ priorities and positions.
[1] November 2020 letter from the Minister of Municipal Affairs to ABmunis