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Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services
 Deborah Bruser: Territorial libraries will have a difficult time loaning out and borrowing books. |
Since 1939, Canadian libraries and its users have enjoyed preferential mailing rates that have allowed books to be shipped by mail at a fraction of the cost of the regular parcel rate.
The Department of Canadian Heritage is currently re-evaluating its agreement with Canada Post, but the NWT Library Association fears both parties might simply allow the agreement to fade away.
"This preferential mail rate is a tremendous boon for all of us, but especially people living in small Northern communities where there may be a library, but limited collections," said Deborah Bruser, president of the Association.
"I would definitely say our readers' pleasure and educational reading needs will not be met if preferential mailing rates are limited."
The association calculated that an average-sized book weighing 350 grams requested from an Ontario library costs approximately $1.70 for a return-mailing label under the current library book rate.
At the regular parcel rate, the same book would cost approximately $6.40 one way.
NWT libraries borrow and loan out on average of 1,000 to 2,000 books a year.
Sandy MacDonald, the NWT's territorial librarian, said without the preferential mailing rate, loaning books by mail would cost the library service upwards of $10,000 a yea. That is simply not viable under current practices he said.
"We would have to review our inter-library loan policy to determine if would continue to draw or request books across Canada or restrict our borrowing from neighbouring provinces," said MacDonald.
The Department of Canadian Heritage is currently conducting a countrywide survey with libraries over the next two weeks to determine whether or not it should continue supporting preferential mailing rates.
