Ottawa-Toronto, Canada – John Manley, Minister of Industry, and Ontario
Minister of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation, Helen Johns, today
announced a partnership agreement which will provide $4.4 million in new
funding to establish additional community Internet access sites in urban
Ontario libraries.
“Libraries have long been at the forefront of information and learning,”
said Minister Manley. “Now they are embracing the Internet, a modern and
powerful tool that enhances the service that libraries provide. I am
delighted that Ontario libraries are playing such a key role in the
Community Access Program through this partnership.”
“I am pleased that this agreement will enhance a first-rate provincial
library network,” said Minister Johns. “This federal-provincial agreement
will give library visitors in urban communities increased access to the
Internet. This will provide community members with a world of information
at their fingertips allowing them to research expanded opportunities for
jobs and contribute to economic growth.”
“The Internet is very much in demand as a research tool in Ontario’s
libraries,” said Wendy Newman, chief executive officer of the Brantford
Public Library. “This funding will reduce the waiting time for clients to
access online information and help library branches provide better service.”
The new Internet sites will be located in 258 Ontario library branches in 35
urban municipalities with populations greater than 50,000. The funding will
support the development of a provincial library network in Ontario. The
network’s goals include continuing to link Ontario’s 1,000 public library
service points to community and global information networks, making library
resources widely available through the Internet and continuing to develop
new ways for public libraries to better serve their communities.
The Government of Canada’s $4.4-million contribution builds on previous
Community Access Program contributions to Ontario libraries, which
established 447 Internet access sites at rural and urban public library
branches throughout Ontario in 1999. Ontario is matching the Government of
Canada’s contribution through $4.4 million in existing program funding for
libraries, bringing the total provincial and private-sector funding
supporting Internet access at Ontario’s libraries to $13 million over the
last four years.
Ontario currently invests $29.7 million per year in its public library
system. This includes the ministry’s annual investment of $18.7 million in
operating grants to Ontario’s public libraries, $1.4 million for the Toronto
Public Library’s Virtual Reference Library, and $1 million to help support
Internet connectivity at libraries across the province. In addition to its
own investment in libraries, Ontario pursues additional funding from the
private sector and the Government of Canada.
Industry Canada’s Community Access Program provides Canadians with
affordable public access to the Internet and the skills to use it
effectively. The program’s goals include establishing up to 10,000 Internet
access sites in remote, rural and urban settings across Canada by March 31,
2001. It is a component of the Government of Canada’s Connecting Canadians
initiative to help all Canadians to connect to the Internet and benefit from
online resources.
For a list of eligible public libraries, please visit the Industry Canada
web site, or the Government of Ontario website at:
www.ic.gc.ca
www.gov.on.ca/MCZCR/english/about/pubs.htm
