Saugeen First Nations public library
The Ontario government announced today, that there will be an investment of an additional $1.25-million annually in First Nations public libraries.
The province said it was to make sure there is extended delivery of popular resources, services and programming to surrounding communities within the province that they serve. Stan Cho the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming spoke about the announcement as well.
“First Nations public Libraries are vital community hubs that provide residents of all ages with access to supports promoting success in school, enable skills development and reinforce and revitalize cultural identity.”
“This investment, the first of it’s kind in more than 25 years, underscores our government’s continued efforts to ensure communities across Ontario have the critical infrastructure in place to empower their residents to learn, grow and thrive.”
Chiefs of Ontario logo
The enhanced funding will be provided to eligible First Nations public Libraries across the province through two existing library support programs: the First Nation Salary Supplement (FNSS) and Public Library Operating Grant (PLOG).
Annual FNSS allocations will increase from $13,000 up to $35,000 per eligible library to support retention and hiring of librarians and support staff. As well, current PLOG allocations for First Nations public libraries will double, with minimum annual grant of $1,500 per eligible library provided to help ensure stable operations.
There are currently 37 First Nations public libraries in Ontario. Since 2018, the Ontario Government has so far provided First Nations public libraries with $3,830,886 in funding through the FNSS and the PLOG programs.
