Quebec libraries portrait shows disparity between Montreal and regions [Video]

Public libraries are popular with the public, but most Quebec municipalities are struggling to meet demand, while some have even cut back on book acquisitions.

On Tuesday, the Quebec Public Libraries Association (ABPQ) and Réseau Biblio du Québec published the third provincial portrait of Quebec public libraries, giving the network an overall score of 66 per cent. The assessment is based on five main criteria: spending on book acquisitions, opening hours offering the greatest possible access, human resources, adequate floor space and seating capacity in relation to the population.

Acquisitions down 20

In an interview with The Canadian Press, the association’s executive director, Ève Lagacé, made no secret of her disappointment at the fact that municipalities have been less generous with their libraries.

“There is one indicator that was going quite well, acquisitions, where we have seen a considerable drop,” she said. “It actually fell by 20 per cent between the two years …