For Immediate Release
July 8, 2005

Rural library cuts mean longer waits for students and others

Simcoe – Students and others looking to borrow books in Rural Ontario may be waiting longer than expected after the McGuinty government slashed funding according to Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant MPP Toby Barrett.

About $1.2 million has been cut by the Ontario Ministry of Culture from public library services – affecting interlibrary loan services for smaller libraries in rural and northern municipalities.

“It’s surprising to me that a Premier and a party that touts themselves as the defenders of education would not see the connection between library cuts and the ability of our students to learn and research,” said Barrett. “Not all education takes place at a school desk.”

$700,000 of the $1.2 million cut, is being slashed from the Southern Ontario Library Serviceand the Ontario Library Service in the north. Another $340,000 is being cut from computer services.

“As my colleague, Opposition Culture Critic Julia Munro has pointed out, In this information age, Ontarians rely on library services for more than just borrowing books,” Barrett stated. “This is clearly a step in the wrong direction that will have a direct impact on the people of Rural Ontario including my friends and neighbours of Haldimand, Norfolk and Brant Counties.”

Those interested in calling on the government to “turn back the page on library cuts” are encouraged to pick up and/or sign petitions available at MPP Barrett’s Simcoe Constituency office.

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For more information please contact MPP Toby Barrett at: 519-428-0446, 905-765-8413 or 1-800-903-8629