The outcome of the current  federal election could affect some key issues of concern to libraries.

Among the most important is the fate of the Library book rate, which since 1939 has made interlibrary loan services affordable through reduced postal rates.

The Canadian Library Association argues that

"It is vital that the Government of Canada guarantee support for this Rate beyond 2008. Permanent funding of $5 million per year is needed in order to maintain a reduced rate of postage for library materials and support one million Canadians."

For more information, check out the CLA's 2008 Election Campaign Kit.

Marianne Reid, Cataloging Librarian at John E. Robbins Library will be instructing an SCCTP workshop on Electronic Serials Cataloging on October 3, 2008.

The Serials Co-operative Cataloguing Training Program (SCCTP) provides standardized authoritative training materials and trains catalogers to present the materials in support of continuing education for serials cataloging

For more information and to register, please go to http://www.mla.mb.ca/Events/scctp.

This month is Canadian Library Month!

This year's theme for Canadian Library Month (CLM) is "Your Library, Your World." A theme that is based on the relevance of libraries in Canadian society. Libraries contribute to building a literate nation, provide the necessary resources for life-long learning, and help develop community.

Posters and sample bookmarks have been distributed to most school and public libraries in Manitoba. The images for the posters and bookmarks are also available on the CLM website for downloading and printing.

If you would like to learn more about how your library could help celebrate Canadian Library Month check out the CLM website for ideas, as the site is full of resources! You can also add your events to their Calendar to show the activity going on in Manitoba libraries.

The report What We Heard is available at the link below as a follow-up to the consultations on Manitoba's new Literacy Act. Manitoba Library Association's voice was heard, along with the Winnipeg Public Library Board - and of course many practitioners and learners.

Libraries, a socially inclusive service, were recognized by some participants as key resources in terms of holdings, expertise, outreach, internet access, facilities availability, and general support services. At present they are seen to be peripheral players.

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December 9, 2008

CONSULTATION REPORT TO GUIDE PROVINCEWIDE LITERACY STRATEGY:  MCGIFFORD

Recommendations from the What We Heard report containing consultation findings will guide the development of a provincewide adult literacy strategy, Advanced Education and Literacy Minister Diane McGifford announced today.

"Our government is committed to addressing the adult literacy challenge in Manitoba and this report provides a solid foundation for developing and working with others to implement a provincewide adult literacy strategy," McGifford said.  "Manitobans must have the range of literacy skills that prepares them for further education and training as well as equips them to access better jobs and enhance their participation in family and community life."

Released today, the report provides the ideas and views of more than 250 literacy stakeholders and over 100 organizations.

The literacy consultation discussion focused on how to reach those with the lowest literacy skills, promote literacy initiatives, raise literacy levels and measure the progress of the Adult Literacy Strategy, currently being developed.

The report suggests that in an increasingly knowledge-based society and economy, literacy is an issue of common concern to government, industry, individuals and communities alike and that each has their respective role in improving literacy levels.

The Adult Literacy Act and Regulation, the first of its kind in Canada, comes into force in January 2009.  The act calls for the development of an adult literacy strategy in collaboration with other government and non-government agencies.  It also establishes the Manitoba Adult Literacy Program as a component of the strategy to ensure ongoing support is given to agencies offering programs for adult learners.

The consultation report What We Heard will be circulated to groups and individuals who participated in the consultations and is also available on the provincial website at www.gov.mb.ca/adultliteracystrategy.

This past year, the departments of Advanced Education and Literacy; Education, Citizenship and Youth; and Competitiveness, Training and Trade participated in the country's first Pan-Canadian Interactive Literacy Forum, championing workforce literacy.  The Manitoba government has more than doubled funding for adult literacy programs since 1999.

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For more background information on MLA's consultation on the Adult Literacy Act, go to http://mla.mb.ca/news/consultation_adult_literacy.

We would like to thank Donna Sanders, MLA's Rural and Northern Libraries Director, for digitizing and posting various MLA newsletters and other documents from decades past onto the MLA website on the MLA Archives page, available at http://mla.mb.ca/archive-mla-newsletters-newsline-and-bulletin or found in the lefthand navigation on the website. Donna scanned and posted MLA Newsline newsletters from 1976 - 1995, MLA Newsline Extra newsletters from 1992, and miscellaneous documents such as the Provincial Election Notice to Members from 1977, the MLA Handbook from 1980, and a list of CD-Rom Products in Selected Manitoba Libraries from 1994. These archives provide an excellent opportunity to look back at MLA's history and we encourage you to take a look. Many thanks to Donna!

Libraries were included in the federal budget today. Budget 2009 will provide $60 million over 2 years to improve infrastructure for local and community cultural and heritage institutions such as libraries, local theatres and small museums.

Related links:

Budget 2009 - Budget in Brief (Department of Finance Canada)

Funding for arts and sciences still on the bill (CBC)

February is designated I Love to Read month in Manitoba and all across North America.  From Manitoba Advanced Education and Literacy: "This internationally-celebrated month is the perfect time to promote early childhood interest in reading and highlight the importance of literacy skills throughout life".

Please use these links for I Love to Read Month activities and information:

• Manitoba Advanced Education and Literacy - http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/ael/all/special_event/february.html#month
• Events at the Manitoba Children's Museum - http://www.childrensmuseum.com/mcm2008/s07.html#read

• I Love to Read Month Calendar of Daily Activities (Developed by the Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg) - http://www.readingmanitoba.org/pdf_files/0809/feb_calendar.pdf
• January/February Issue of WPL's @ THE LIBRARY Newsletter - http://wpl.winnipeg.ca/library/pdfs/@thelibrary10.1.pdf (Go to page 10 for I Love to Read events)