Regional library looks for 4.6% increase for 2026

The Western Manitoba Regional Library is planning to raise its rates for participating municipalities by 4.6 per cent next year, costing an extra 65 cents per person.

The proposed hike in the draft 2026 budget would allow for the regional library to increase its number of books, including duplicate copies of popular titles, and increase programming, said Erika Martin, WMRL’s director of library services.

“A goal of mine is to get us more on par with our provincial libraries, so that we’re funded what I think is fairly and appropriately,” Martin told the Sun on Monday. “We do struggle — we have long wait lists, we’re trying to increase our collections. That’s one of the increases for next year.”

Before Martin took over her role at the library a few years ago, growth had stagnated, she said.

WMRL’s planned increase in next year’s tax on municipalities follows an increase of $1 per person in 2025, according to a presentation given to the City of Brandon during last week’s council meeting.

The new rate means Brandon would pay $759,432 in 2026, an increase of $33,353 compared to last year. It will also pay a security guard grant worth $67,500.

The $14.80-per-person total compares to the provincial average of $18.02, and a provincial average of $17.57 when excluding the City of Winnipeg.

Other municipalities that are part of the WMRL will also see the same increase per capita. If the budget is approved when the board convenes on Nov. 19, they will pay:

• Town of Neepawa — $84,138.

• Rural Municipality of North Cypress Langford — $42,328.

• Town of Carberry — $26,906.

• Municipality of Grassland — $23,428.

• Municipality of Glenboro-South Cypress — $23,162.

The regional library will also receive just over $700,000 from the province, along with money made through memberships, fines, fundraising, merchandise and interest.

Martin said as prices rise for the cost of goods, and employees are given the raises they deserve, it’s necessary to increase the library’s rates.

“I think everyone knows that prices are going up in general,” she said, adding if rates didn’t increase, the money would have to be taken from what the library spends on books. “If I take from books, then what’s our core at the end of the day?”

The library is also adding a day’s worth of hours for its communications and social media position. Martin said marketing is especially important as the world becomes more digital, and the added hours will enable the library to have a larger presence online, with less focus on Brandon.

Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett said this year’s increase “is manageable,” but that the city still wants to review what it entails.

“But libraries are extremely important, and they are sort of a lifeblood of a community,” Fawcett said on Monday. “We have lots and lots and lots of people that go through the library … on a regular basis.”

Brandon has two WMRL locations — in the Brandon Shoppers Mall and The Town Centre. Other branches are in Carberry, Neepawa, Glenboro and Hartney.

Fawcett said as the city reviews the budget, it’s really doing so just to make sure everything is being used “as effectively as possible.”

Michelle Boudreau, the Shoppers Mall branch supervisor, said the library is a “very important resource point” for the community. She also highlighted some of the programming WMRL provides, such as Wiggly Wednesdays and Saturday Storytimes.

“We see young families that need that resource where they can meet other people,” she told council last week.

Martin said the presentations to the different municipalities all went well, with the only real questions and concerns coming from Neepawa, as the town also works to complete its $127-million hospital, which is expected to open early next year.

» alambert@brandonsun.com