Library numbers growing

Organization seeing significant increases in members and visits

Nearly half the population of Niagara Falls are members of the city’s public library, which is seeing significant increases in visits, items borrowed and programs offered.

But as the library — which has four branches and plans to reopen its Stamford Centre branch once renovations are completed — tries to return to pre-pandemic service levels, it’s also seeing operational costs significantly increase.

Chief Librarian Alicia Subnaik Kilgour and John Anstruther, vice chair of the library board, presented city council with its 2023 operating budget ask during a recent meeting.

The budget represented an 8.5 per cent increase, or $422,833, from $4.9 million to $5.3 million. It represented a 0.5 per cent increase to the city’s overall operating levy, which is increasing 7.4 per cent and was approved by local politicians Tuesday.

The library saw nearly 218,000 in-person visits in 2022, an increase of 139 per cent, while virtual visits were up 19 per cent, to more than 347,000.

More than 502,000 items were borrowed, up 29 per cent, while active cardholders grew to more than 45,000, up eight per cent.

Increases were also seen in computer (238 per cent, or more than 24,000) and WiFi (48 per cent, or more than 34,000) sessions, programs (up 15 per cent, or more than 1,300), and program attendees (31 per cent, or nearly 25,000).

At the same time, the library is seeing increases to labour expenses, including changes to pension enrolment, contracted cleaning services and the cost of a security guard at the Victoria Avenue branch.

The library is also facing an 18 per cent increase in collection materials from suppliers, resulting in greater costs but fewer materials purchased, while prior year cuts to the collection budget have created deficits.

“The board has presented a budget that encompasses the needs to ensure that not only can we provide the core services to our ever-growing city, but to also ensure that we can bring the Stamford branch back online this year,” said Anstruther.

“We are optimistic that we will be able to move ahead very quickly on the next phase of that renovation.”

He said the budget “fairly and completely” represents the costs to continue to operate the library at a level of service “that our community not only wants, but needs.”

“Our goal for this is to return to a level of service that we had pre-pandemic and we’re not quite there yet.”