Public Library Investment Overview: Outaouais Elected Officials Urged to Take Action

Public Library Investment Overview: Outaouais Elected Officials Urged to Take Action

On the Eve of Municipal Elections, Quebec Public Library Association Urges Investment: Outaouais Officials Called to Action

As municipal elections approach, the Quebec Public Library Association (ABPQ), in collaboration with the Réseau BIBLIO du Québec, is using Quebec Public Library Week to remind candidates that investments in cultural institutions are vital. Public libraries provide a wide range of services without discrimination, meeting the informational, cultural, educational, and literacy needs of all age groups.

The fourth edition of the Public Library Investment Overview highlights, at the provincial level, the current state of investment in libraries, with an overall score of just 68%.

To reflect the realities faced by public libraries based on their regional context, the typology of administrative regions used by the Quebec Institute of Statistics was employed. This approach makes it easier to identify trends and tailor recommendations for central, peripheral, intermediate, and remote regions across the province.

The Overview is divided into five subsections corresponding to the indicators assessed, resulting in an overall score of 64% for intermediate regions, which include Outaouais, Estrie, Centre-du-Québec, and Mauricie:

• Collections: 57%

• Opening hours: 46%

• Library space: 65%

• Seating capacity: 76%

• Human resources: 25%

Municipalities work to improve the quality of life in their communities, but despite growth, current investments in public libraries barely meet passing standards. Continued efforts are needed to ensure the quality of these essential cultural institutions.

The full Overview can be consulted here.