On the fate of the Parham Library

I would like to take the opportunity to clarify views I expressed with regard to the fate of the Parham Public Library.

As many will be aware, the Kingston Frontenac Library Board is proposing that services be scaled back at the location, and that the library be replaced with a locker or a vending style machine. The reasons cited for this are cost and the relatively low volume of traffic. These arguments might seem convincing, but they also raise questions.

Dealing with the cost, it is the contention of the Board that the cost of outfitting the location, which they estimate in the range of $27,000, is prohibitive. At the same time, however, they are prepared to spend up to $40,000 for a book vending machine. The counter argument would be that there is a saving in not having to pay for staffing, and yet their estimate for the yearly operating cost of the machine is over $8,000 – enough to pay the wages and benefits of the existing staff person for 11 months.

There is, of course, the argument that the branch just simply does not get the public use to justify it. The Board’s Annual Report for 2014 cites that there were only 1100 visits to Parham. By comparison, Calvin Park had in excess of 127,000. These numbers, however, need to be put into context.

Calvin Park is one of five branches serving a City of over 125,000 people. Divided equally, it serves a population of 25,000 – the equivalent of Central and South Frontenac Townships combined. Parham, as the only branch in Hinchinbrooke District, draws upon a population base one-tenth the size. Also, while Calvin Park is open 55 hours per week, Parham operates only 6 hours. If you do the math, if Parham were open as often as Calvin Park and could draw upon the same population base, its visit volume would have been 100,833. If you consider that unlike Calvin Park patrons, people in and around Parham cannot get to the library by taxi or transit bus, then the numbers are very respectable.

The Board’s Annual Report makes mention of numerous activities held at branches – from book clubs for young readers, to writer-in-residence programs, readings from guest authors, 3D printers, and other promotional activities. All of these things have two things in common – they drive up library patronage, and they occur exclusively in branches south of the 401. One can only speculate as to whether libraries north of the 401 would do better if some of those same activities were extended beyond Kingston.

Central Frontenac Township committed itself to doing what it could to keep the Parham Library open. The additional space being added to the new Parham Fire Hall, which conforms to the Library Board’s stated requirements, added $95,000 to the cost of construction project. This was agreed to because members of Council placed a great deal of importance to this service for people in Parham and the surrounding area. It is disappointing that the Library Board considers a vending machine as meeting us halfway.

I want to express my appreciation for the support that Mayor Smith is putting behind maintaining library services in Parham. She has shown leadership in dealing with the Library Board and I am grateful for the effort she is putting in on our behalf.

http://www.kingstonregion.com/…/5797433-libraries-situation…