Re: Greater Victoria Public Library 2020 Budget and Five-Year Financial Plan (Cover Letter)

GREATER VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

November 12, 2019

Mayor Screech and Council Town of View Royal 45 View Royal Avenue View Royal, BC V9B 1A6

Dear Mayor Screech and Council:

Re: Greater Victoria Public Library 2020 Budget and Five-Year Financial Plan

I am pleased to submit Greater Victoria Public Library’s 2020 Operating Budget and Five-Year Financial Plan for 2020-2024. As per the terms of the Library Operating Agreement, approval by council resolution is required by May 1, 2020.

We are proud to report that the Greater Victoria Public Library continues to rank as one of the highest circulation per capita public library systems in Canada (i.e. community members borrow more items, per capita, compared to other large Canadian library systems). We achieve this position through innovation, efficiencies and the implementation of new technologies and service models. Serving ten municipalities and 346,993 citizens, we deliver library services at our twelve branch locations, online and through community outreach initiatives.

To sustain our level of service and to meet increasing and changing service demands, the overall municipal contribution increase requested for 2020 is 3.90%. The Town of View Royal’s share of the 2020 requisition is $547,158 which is based on converted assessment values and population of your municipality, including rental adjustment.

It has been said that our communities are only as privileged as our least privileged citizen. Public libraries provide a place where every citizen belongs and that everyone can call their own. It is not an exaggeration to say that libraries change lives. By providing citizens with equitable access to information, services and resources, public libraries allow everyone to grow: discovering new ideas that can change minds.

Thank you for your ongoing appreciation of our work. GVPL is an essential component of the social infrastructure that is critical to healthy communities and we look to the future, supported by you, with confidence and anticipation.

Sincerely,

Deborah Begoray Chair, Greater Victoria Public Library Board

cc: Kim Anema, CAO, Town of View Royal Dawn Christenson, Director of Finance, Town of View Royal Maureen Sawa, CEO, Greater Victoria Public Library Paul McKinnon, Director, Finance & Facilities, Greater Victoria Public Library