CLA Member Advocacy Survey: The Impact of Federal Budget Cuts on Canada’s Libraries

The Canadian Library Association (CLA) has released the results of its survey on the impact of federal budget cuts.

From the Executive Summary:

"In the spring of 2012 the federal government announced a series of budget cuts that raised serious concerns within the library community. Library and Archives Canada was subject to a 10% budget reduction, and many federal department libraries were restructured, reduced or closed (...)"

"In order to determine how these cuts will impact the broader library community, CLA conducted a survey of its members. More than 400 individuals provided detailed responses to the survey questions. They overwhelmingly agreed that the cuts will impact both local and national library services, with 98% of respondents indicating concern. Areas most likely to be affected were identified, and include: access to material/information, research, interlibrary loans, Community Access Program, preservation, staffing cuts, digital issues."

"CLA is preparing follow up actions based on these survey results. Specific concerns regarding how cuts are being implemented at Library and Archives Canada will be raised as a series of questions to the Deputy Head and Librarian and Archivist and the Management Board. A campaign will be launched to inform MPs as well as departmental managers of the essential role of government libraries in the development of informed public policy and legislation. Research will be conducted regarding the implementation of the cuts and their impact on library staff, collections, and services to Canadians."

"CLA will keep members informed of developments as we take our next steps, and seek further input as necessary. We will engage members in local advocacy initiatives, to reach out to MPs in their ridings and help spread the message about the impact of these cuts."

Earlier Library Boy posts about the impact of federal budget cutbacks include:

• Canadian Library Association Dismayed by Federal Budget Impact (May 2, 2012): "The Canadian Library Association (CLA) today released a statement criticizing the 2012 federal budget which it believes will hit federal libraries and Libraries and Archives Canada very hard."
• Canadian Association of Law Libraries 2012 Conference Resolutions (May 10, 2012): "A number of resolutions were adopted yesterday at the Annual General Meeting ... of the Canadian Association of Law Libraries in Toronto (...) members also voted to support the Save Libraries and Archives Canada campaign ..."
• September 2012 Campaign Update of Save Library and Archives Canada (September 27, 2012): "The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) launched a campaign this year called Save Library and Archives Canada (LAC) because of its fear that recent federal budget cuts would hamper the institution's many collections and activities. The campaign has just published a September 2012 Campaign Update (...)" 
• Library and Archives Canada Terminates Inter-Library Loan Service (October 31, 2012): "The CLA Govt Library & IM Professionals Network, part of the Canadian Library Association, has published an announcement from Library and Archives Canada (LAC) that the institution is putting an end to its inter-library loan service in the next few weeks. The LAC's service has been an indispensable tool nationwide for researchers and libraries. "