Library Information for Perth South Residents
Contact Us
St. Marys Public Library
15 Church Street North, St. Marys, Ontario, N4X 1B4
T. 519-284-3346
F. 519-284-2630
E-mail the St. Marys Library
Map this Location.
At their May 2, 2024 meeting, the St. Marys Public Library Board made the extremely difficult decision to cease library services to Perth South residents.
Local governments in Ontario are legally required to provide Library services to all of their residents under the Public Libraries Act. If a local government chooses not to provide brick and mortar libraries, they are required to provide Library services by contracting with another library through a service agreement.
For many years, the Township of Perth South has contracted library services for their residents though the St. Marys Public Library, the Stratford Public Library, and Huron County Library system, paying each of these municipalities a percentage rate representing portions of the Perth South population; specifically, 50% to St. Marys, 35% to Stratford and 15% to Huron County libraries.
In the spirit of this longstanding relationship and with the desire to serve Perth South residents, the St. Marys Library has offered services to the Township of Perth South at a reduced rate. For the past several years, the Township of Perth South has been charged for Library services at a rate per resident that is approx. 50% of what the Town of St. Marys pays for its residents to have access to the very same services.
Each year, the contracting libraries of St. Marys, Stratford and Huron County inform Perth South Council members of the actual cost of library services for the upcoming year. In January of 2024, we informed the Perth South Council of the proposed Service Agreement budget. In March we were notified that Perth South Council was considering reducing funding and at their April 16th Council Meeting, Perth South made the announcement that they were making a drastic cut to the funding available for library services. This announcement was made without any negotiation or discussion of the impact this would have on the budgets of the St. Marys or Stratford Library Boards or the loss of services to their residents.
The St. Marys Library depends on the cost for services paid by Perth South to be fiscally able to offer library services. Without a contract for Library Services, we are not obligated, nor required to offer services to Perth South residents. As the result of this and other factors, the St. Marys Public Library Board made the very difficult decision to pass a resolution at their May 2, 2024 meeting to cease Library services to residents of Perth South.
It is with heavy hearts that we need to put this resolution into practice. This means that Perth South Residents will no longer have access to the library’s physical collections, e-resources, programs, computer services, printing, or Perth County Information Network resources at this time.
Do you value your St. Marys Public Library services? We strongly encourage residents to express their feelings about this issue to the Mayor and Councilors of Perth South and encourage them to engage in further discussions with the St. Marys and Stratford Library boards. It is our sincere hope that we will once again be able to offer Library services to Perth South residents in the future.
| Cost for Library Services to Perth South Historically |
In 2024, St. Marys informed Perth South Council that the cost of Library services would be $74,363. This is approx. $37.62 per resident. In 2024, the Town of St. Marys will pay at a rate of $79.00 per resident. This equates to a reduced rate for Perth South, per resident at 48% of the cost per St. Marys resident. These calculations for service to Perth South do not include full operating costs which if included would bring the total up to $83,771
|
| Access to Full Library Services |
| For as long as there has been a contract in place, Perth South residents have enjoyed the same services as St. Marys residents. This includes access to a physical collection, online resources, printing, computer use, access to non-traditional collection and more. If you feel strongly about accessing the incredible array of services we offer, please reach out to your council member to express your feelings about this issue. |
| Visitor / Non-Resident Cards |
|
Visitor library cards are intended for use by residents of municipalities or cities outside of Perth County or counties with reciprocal borrowing agreements in place (Huron, Oxford and Oxford Counties). The cost of a visitor card is $10 a month, or $120 annually. All local governments have a legal obligation to provide library services to their residents, visitor cards do not meet this obligation. Perth South residents are not eligible to purchase non-resident cards at this time.
|
| Library Membership Eligibility |
|
As per the library's circulation policy (OP-02 Circulation)
|