Delta staff is looking into the regional budgeting process for library services after questions from civic politicians last week.
"I don't personally use the library. I kind of have the feeling that libraries are going to route of the video rental stores but I'm probably... wrong about that," said Coun. Ian Paton. "With the access to information now, with everyone having computers in their home, why do we spend so much money? Do the people out there even know we spent $2.3 million a year of our money to run our libraries in Delta and just how many people use libraries any more?"
Paton raised the question as civic politicians considered a proposed 2.65 per cent increase to Delta's portion of the Fraser
Valley Regional Library budget. The increase brings Delta's contribution to $3.19 million for 2013, $82,000 more than last year.
"Libraries are starting to evolve and reach out to more and more people. They've established a couple of new pro-grams... so I think they had a number of cost increases that they felt now was the time to expand upon," said civic finance director Karl Preuss.
Coun. Jeannie Kanakos, Delta council's liaison to the library board, said the municipality did push back during the budget process and the 2.65 per cent increase is lower than the original figure.
"We did spend quite a few meetings this year pushing back looking for opportunities and asking them to cut back," said Sean McGill, Delta's director of human resources and corporate planning.
Kanakos said that throughout the process she was heartened to hear the process for determining the annual budget for the regional library will be improved.
"We're very proud of our libraries," she said.
In the end, council did approve the proposed cost increase, however, a request will be sent to the library board for a delegation to appear before council. As well, staff was directed to analyze the library board's fee structure and budgeting process.
