Winnipeg libraries need millions to hire more staff, increase hours, report says
Major review of library services recommends hiring 12 more staff over 4 years
A new report says the city needs to invest millions more in Winnipeg libraries to increase hours, hire more staff and improve services.
The first major review of Winnipeg library services in more than a decade found Winnipeggers are frustrated with confusing hours and a lack of access.
It says the city needs to hire 12 more full-time positions over the next four years.
That will be enough to keep libraries open an average of 250 more hours a year.
This would cost the city another $2 million in 2024, $2.5 million in 2025, $3 million in 2026 and $3.5 million in 2027.
That money would go toward hiring more staff, increasing operating hours, and improving collections, programming and services.
Community services committee chair Coun. Evan Duncan (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood) says he supports opening libraries longer, but wouldn't commit to the funding increase or hiring more staff.
"In this report it indicates that we need more staff with the template that they've set up," Duncan told reporter on Wednesday.
"This isn't written in stone at this point in time. We need to look at … how we can best accommodate Winnipeggers."
The report notes Winnipeg's 20 library branches operate using seven different sets of hours during the fall and winter, and six sets of hours during the summer.
"Current library hours lack consideration for consistency, accessibility and equity," Karin Borland, manager of library services, wrote in the report.
"The hours do not meet the needs and expectations of Winnipeggers. The current hours of operation are a significant barrier to using library services and are not convenient for the public.
It recommends simplifying hours of operation, opening all library branches on Wednesdays and Saturdays, keeping all libraries closed on Sundays, and keeping library hours consistent throughout the year.
Recruitment, retention struggles
The city has struggled to recruit and retain library staff. Borland writes staff frequently work long hours without sufficient support, leading to safety concerns and poor morale.
In addition to hiring more staff, the report recommends expanding professional development and career advancement opportunities for staff.
The head of the union representing library workers says funding is a step in the right direction, but Winnipeg still falls behind other Canadian cities.
The report compares staffing levels in Winnipeg to other cities. While Winnipeg has 35.6 full-time equivalent staff per 100,000 residents, Hamilton has 47, Edmonton has 52, and Regina has 78.
"It still concerns us that we're still far, far behind from being able to provide adequate services for Winnipeggers, and for them to be able to utilize libraries on the weekends and then the evenings for their families," said Gord Delbridge, president of CUPE Local 500.
Joe Curnow from the library advocacy group Millennium 4 All urged council to approve the funding.
"I think it would be cowardly for council not to take this report seriously," she said.
"Staff have been saying for years, community members have been saying for years that our system is in trouble and that it needs a really significant increase to funding."
In order to bring operating hours of Winnipeg libraries more in line with other cities across the country, the report says the city would need to hire another 84 full-time workers across all levels. The report recommends reviewing library operations and hours ahead of the 2028-2031 multi-year budget.
The funding increase recommended in the report would come on top of higher spending on security operations.
The community services committee will consider the funding increase at its meeting next week.
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