Manitoba Budget 2024 and Public Libraries

April 2, 2024

Adrien Sala, Minister of Finance, today tabled the 2024 Manitoba budget.

The budget touches on two of the priorities identified in the Manitoba Library Association’s Provincial Election Toolkit 2023, with the funding priority addressed more concretely.

• Increase Provincial operating funds for public libraries in Manitoba.
• Support and defend all libraries, librarians, and library workers! Librarians are trained to carefully curate collections that reflect diverse communities of all ages

Support for Public Libraries

At a time when public libraries are under attack, our government will defend libraries and the librarians who work in them because we recognize that libraries are a critical local resource that supports community development and the well-being of Manitobans. They provide residents with access to information, education, the Internet, a range of programming, and community connections. Manitoba’s public library system serves communities of all sizes across all regions of the province, including rural and northern communities and urban centres such as Winnipeg.

Budget 2024 includes $1.2-million to implement a new public libraries funding model. This new model recognizes and encourages continued municipal investments in their local library system and incentivizes new investment, strengthening the system as a whole. Total operating funding for rural and northern libraries and the Winnipeg Public Library will increase to $8.3-million in 2024/25, from $7.1-million in 2023/24 – an increase of 17 per cent year over year.

(Via Government of Manitoba)