Operational Funding for Public Libraries

Alberta Municipal Affairs provides funding to support the delivery of public library service. Public libraries must submit certain documents to the Ministry in order to trigger the provincial operating grant. More information, including deadlines and links to the requisite forms, is posted on the Grant Application for Public Library Boards website.

 

Under the Libraries Act, public libraries are a municipal responsibility and municipalities are expected to provide a reasonable level of support to their library boards in order to provide adequate library services within their community.

Discover which Alberta communities provided the highest level of public library support in 2009 on the Public Library Statistics website. Compare this with the 2009 Average Municipal Funding by Regionchart and find out how Parkland members funded their public libraries in 2010 from the 2010 Local Appropriation spreadsheet.

In addition to the municipal appropriation, public libraries should be receiving Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) funding from their municipality.

Library boards are eligible to apply for matching funds under the Community Spirit Program of Alberta Culture and Community Spirit.

 

Is your community planning to renovate or build a new library? Alberta's public libraries qualify for funding through the The Alberta Lottery Fund. Libraries have found the Community Initiatives Program (CIP) and Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) to be valuable resources.

You may find additional grants from the list of possible grants available for building/renovating.

Libraries may partner with other organizations and municipalities for additional government grants.