Tweed introduces bill to protect Canada’s libraries

OTTAWA, June 14 – Merv Tweed, Member of Parliament for Brandon Souris today introduced a private member’s bill that will protect Canada’s public libraries’ access to concessionary postal rates for library material.

Since 1939, libraries in Canada have been able to exchange books at a reduced postal rate, historically known as the Library Book Rate (LBR).  While originally funded directly by the Government of Canada, a 1997 ruling by the World Trade Organization requires the cost of the program to be incurred by Canada Post.  Canada Post has not guaranteed support past January 2008.

Mr. Tweed’s bill will provide for the continuation of the LBR for Canada’s libraries.  This guarantees the long term access and sustainability to the program.

“With this assistance, publicly funded libraries will continue to meet the information requests of Canadian citizens,” said Mr. Tweed.  “The Library Book Rate is critical in meeting the needs of rural and northern populations and for those who are housebound by reason of location, age or disability.

Canadian public and academic libraries continue to see increased demand for greater dependence on resource sharing and in turn, dependence on the LBR.  “For this reason,” said Mr. Tweed, “the Library Book Rate is critical to the viability of our libraries and their ability to serve Canadians.”

Mr. Tweed’s bill will also expand the traditional book program to include non-print materials such as CDs and DVDs.  “The addition of the modern, digital media is something our Canadian libraries have been asking for since 1967 and it recognizes that our libraries go well beyond the traditional book exchange,” said Mr. Tweed.