By Galen Simmons, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Following a funding dispute that resulted in the withdrawal of library services for Perth South township residents at both the St. Marys and Stratford libraries earlier this year, all three parties now seem to be in agreement over a new, five-year library services agreement.
Though exact details around how the cost of library services in St. Marys and Stratford will be borne by Perth South taxpayers had not been released before this newspaper’s publication date, the agreement – while technically effective as of Jan. 1, 2025 – restored services at the St. Marys Public Library to Perth South residents as of Dec. 9.
“The St. Marys Public Library board is delighted to welcome patrons from Perth South back to our wonderful library,” said board chair Dr. Cole Atlin in a press release. “This new agreement is a testament to the importance of library services in our communities and the hard work of all those involved from Perth South and St. Marys.”
A temporary agreement between Perth South and the Stratford Public Library reached in the summer provided township residents with limited access to services and programs at that library until the end of this year.
“We’re glad an agreement has been reached and appreciate the township’s commitment to supporting library services for their residents,” said Stratford Public Library CEO Krista Robinson about the new, five-year agreement with Perth South in a press release. “We look forward to welcoming Perth South residents back to using our library and the full services of the Perth County Information Network.”
Under the new agreement, Perth South residents will have access to the full range of services offered by the St. Marys and Stratford libraries, including book lending, digital resources, programs, summer reading initiatives, community events and, at the Stratford library, use of the library MakerSpace.
The initial funding dispute originated from a March 20 letter sent to the St. Marys library board by Perth South CAO Fred Tranquilli informing the board the township council had reduced its budgetary allocation for library services from both Stratford and St. Marys to just $53,734 combined and asked the St. Marys library board to reduce its funding request for 2024. The library board voted down that request at its April 4 meeting, citing the fact St. Marys residents already subsidize library services for their neighbours in Perth South.
As part of a 20-year service agreement between Perth South, the Huron County Library in Kirkton, the St. Marys Public Library and the Stratford Public Library, Perth South was asked by the St. Marys library board to contribute $74,363 – an increase by five per cent over what the township paid last year – to allow Perth South residents to access free library services from St. Marys in 2024. The Stratford Public Library also requested $45,480 from Perth South to allow its residents to access library services there.
In his letter, Tranquilli said Perth South council already approved a request from the Huron County Library for $11,266 in funding this year. While Tranquilli said the budget for Stratford library services could be accommodated in this reduced budget allocation for library services, he asked the St. Marys library board to consider submitting a revised budget request that fit within Perth South’s 2024 allocation. As a result, the Stratford library board also opted not to renew its service agreement with Perth South.
“Perth South has library services with three different providers,” Perth South Mayor Sue Orr said. “So, we had agreed to the Kirkton (library services contract) because we were aware of the cost and the agreement. So, we didn’t lose any kind of service whatsoever with that one. But then, we went to negotiate with Stratford and St. Marys and it really became about the terms of the agreement. I think we were negotiating all along, it’s just when you’re negotiating, you’re negotiating, so sometimes I was reading stuff in the paper and I was like, ‘I don’t know about that.’
“Perth South was always at the negotiating table and now we have an agreement that we all understand and it’s moving forward for the next five years.”
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