Libraries support strong, healthy communities and help Albertans compete in the global economy. Libraries further lifelong learning and encourage creativity.

Alberta Community Development’s goal is: to support equitable access to library service for all Albertans; to maintain a governance structure; to provide funding assistance and to establish a province wide network for communications and sharing of library resources. The Libraries Act sets out parameters for public library structure.

The Libraries Act defines the roles of the partners in library development. It recognizes the municipality as the foundation for public library service and the library boards as the major building blocks. It allows for cooperation between municipalities and school authorities to provide equitable and enhanced service through library systems in large regional areas.

The Libraries Act sets out the governance structure for public library service. It provides for the establishment of municipal and community library boards at the local level and system boards at the regional level. These autonomous boards cooperate through provincial networks and resource sharing agreements to give access to public library resources to all Albertans.

The structure supports four principles for equitable public library service:

• Access: Albertans have an equal right to access information regardless of economic, social or geographic circumstances.
• Accountability: Provincial and municipal governments are responsible for maintaining a healthy public library service. Library boards are accountable to the citizens and funding authorities.
• Quality service: Cooperation among and through library systems is the most efficient means of providing access to information and
• Funding: Public library service is funded by local and provincial tax dollars. Library boards may raise funds.

In Alberta, public library service includes the following services at no charge:

• access to library facilities;
• use of library resources in the library;
• borrowing library resources, in any format;
• acquiring library resources through interlibrary loan;
• consultation by library staff and/or;
• basic information service.

In Alberta, public libraries may charge for:

• Penalties for overdue materials
• Library cards
• Meeting rooms
• Photocopying
• Downloading onto disk or paper in the library
• Contracted Services

 

The Provincial Resource Sharing Policy allows for equitable access to the library resources through the endorsement and implementation of this public policy by the library community.

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