As of March 30th, the West Grey Public Library will discontinue operations at the Resource Centre in Elmwood, which has been working out of the basement of the St John’s Lutheran Church there. Library services and programmes for residents of West Grey will still be available out of branches in Neustadt, Ayton and Durham, along with no-fee membership for local users through Bruce County Library.

“As in many other rural areas in Ontario, we are challenged with providing programmes and services over a vast geographic area with a small population base.” Said West Grey Library Board Chair Malcolm Beddoe.

The Administrators of Rural and Urban Public Libraries of Ontario (ARUPLO) provides targets for appropriate levels of library service for communities. Comparisons show that West Grey Public Library is operating out of too many facilities. With the loss of the Elmwood Branch several years ago, the Library has operated out of a church basement, but with declining usage. Branches in Durham, Neustadt and Ayton operate out of municipally owned properties.

“We have a responsibility, as does the Municipality, to manage our resources prudently so we can provide the best possible library services for all West Grey residents,” says Beddoe. “We are acutely aware of that responsibility.”

Details and updates will be posted outside the branch, online through the Library’s Facebook account, and on the West Grey Library website www.westgreylibrary.com.

source: media release, West Grey Public Library