Quebec Library Funding in Doubt

A budget tabled by the Ministry of Education in March proposed $48.3 million for school library materials over the next five years and $42.1 million for information technology over the next two years, says Lupita Kerwin, a Ministry spokeswoman. But now that Quebec's federalist Liberal party wrested control from the separatist Parti Québécois in the April 14 provincial elections, it's unclear what will happen to that generous funding proposal.

"School libraries here are a disaster," says Regine Horinstein, director of the Professional Librarian Association of Quebec. "Most schools don't have school libraries and they rarely have professional staff. They mostly rely on volunteers and parents."

There are about 2,800 K–12 schools in Quebec, which have no specific education requirements for school librarians. Some have MLSs, others bachelor's degrees in education or just technical diplomas, says Jocelyne Dion of the National French Association to Promote School Libraries.