C-509 Receives Unanimous Support
Ottawa – March 9, 2011 – Merv Tweed, Member of Parliament for Brandon Souris is thrilled that his Private Members’ Bill C-509, An Act to amend the Canada Post Corporation Act (library materials) passed with unanimous support this evening in the House of Commons.
“I believe Bill C-509 is crucial to protecting library services that benefit all Canadians,” said Tweed. “The positive response I have received from citizens from coast to coast since first introducing this Bill in 2007 speaks to the importance of protecting Canada’s Library Book Rate.”
Bill C-509 seeks to enshrine not only the Library Book Rate in the Canada Post Corporation Act, but it also seeks to enshrine a wider definition of library materials including new media materials beyond books. The Library Book Rate is a highly discounted postal rate offered by Canada Post. This discounted rate has existed since 1939. It is used by libraries to reduce the cost of offering inter-library loans and helps to provide equal access to printed library books for all Canadian readers regardless of their location whether they live in a rural, remote or urban area of Canada.
The Canadian Library Association (CLA), the largest national library group in Canada, has also given its full support to Bill C-509.
“CLA recognizes the significance of this Private Members’ Bill for Canadians,” said Barbara Clubb, City Librarian and CEO, Ottawa Public Library. “This Bill is about protecting the democratic right of all citizens, regardless of where they live, to have equal access to library and information services.”
Tweed has been encouraged by the overwhelming, positive support the Bill has received from all parties in the House of Commons.
“It will now move into the Senate, and I am hopeful that people studying it there will see the positives, and the benefits to all Canadians,” said Tweed.
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Library Book Rate – Background Information
Q’s and A’s
What is the Library Book Rate?
The Library Book Rate is a highly discounted postal rate offered
by Canada Post. This discounted rate has existed since 1939. It is used by
libraries to reduce the cost of offering inter-library loans and helps to
provide equal access to printed library books for all Canadian readers
regardless of their location whether they live in a rural, remote or urban area
of Canada.
What is the purpose of the Bill?
Bill C-509 seeks to enshrine not only the
Library Book Rate in the Canada Post Corporation
Act, but it also seeks to enshrine a wider
definition of library materials including new media materials beyond
books.
How many libraries does it help?
-Over 2,000 libraries actively use the Library Book Rate and an
estimated one million Canadians benefit from it annually. Approximately 65% of
volumes mailed under the Library Book Rate are destined for libraries and
library users in small towns, rural locations, and remote communities, thereby
allowing these users to access the collections held in libraries across the
country.
How many books are shipped?
-In 2009, Canada Post handled 713,000 shipments of
books under the Library Book Rate. (Source: Canada Post 2009 Annual
Report)
-Each shipment may include one or more library books.
(Source: Canadian Library Association’s submission to the Review Panel on the
Canada Post Corporation)
How many products we expect to ship with the changes?
-Neither Canada Post nor the Canadian Library
Association was able to estimate how many products might be shipped if the
Library Book Rate was expanded, as Bill C-509 proposes, to include materials
such as audio- and videocassettes and DVDs.
How much has it cost in the past?
-Canada Post has reported that if it charged commercial rates
rather than the reduced Library Book Rate, in 2009, it would have earned an
estimated $6 million more than the $772,000 it collected from libraries
under existing rate. (Source: Canada Post 2009 Annual Report)