Quebec public libraries face staff shortages

Quebec’s public libraries are desperately short-staffed.

The fifth portrait of investments in Quebec public libraries, which outlines the state of affairs in these institutions across the province, raises many problems as well as successes, but the issue of human resources is particularly concerning.

Overall, the calculation of all indicators yields a score of 68 per cent for 2025, exactly the same result as in 2024, but still an increase compared to the 64 per cent score obtained in 2022. The Executive Director of the Quebec Public Libraries Association, Ève Lagacé, describes this passing grade as concerning: “Despite the efforts made, investments are stagnating and several needs remain significant, particularly in terms of human resources. Our libraries are essential public services for the vitality of our communities. For them to fully play their role, we must now accelerate investments and give them the resources to offer, throughout Quebec, the quality services that the public has a right to expect.”

Regional disparities

The overall score also masks marked regional disparities, with the central regions of Montreal and Quebec City and their periphery (Laval, Laurentides, Lanaudière, Montérégie and Chaudière-Appalaches) showing a score of 71 per cent and 70 per cent respectively, compared to 65 per cent in the intermediate regions (Mauricie, Estrie, Outaouais, Centre-du-Québec) and 64 per cent in the remote regions (Bas-Saint-Laurent, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Côte-Nord, Nord-du-Québec, Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine).

Julie Blais, president of the BIBLIO network in Quebec, notes in this regard that “behind the results of the Portrait are very different realities from one community to another. Regardless of the size of a municipality, its population should be able to count on a well-supported library, with rich collections and accessible services.”

These ratings are based on indicators of excellence established by the BiblioQUALITÉ Program and show the distance to be covered to achieve excellence in each category. These categories are acquisition costs, opening hours, adequate floor space, human resources, and the number of seats.

Shortfall of 3,140 employees

The human resources score, which is 31 per cent in 2025, has hovered around 30 per cent for the past five years. The report reveals that last year, there was a shortage of 806 documentation technicians, 504 librarians, and 1,830 other employees—a total of 3,140 people—to reach what the report describes, across all categories, as a “level of excellence enabling quality services to citizens.”

For other employees, the score is 46 per cent, but it drops to 20 per cent for technicians and to just 12 per cent for librarians. The often-overlooked work of documentation technicians includes document processing, facilitating activities, and supporting research, among other things. Librarians—the vast majority of whom are women—are responsible for library management, supporting research, and cultural programming, among other things.

Purchase shortfall of over $800,000

The acquisitions category also raises concerns, as the score has plummeted from 84 per cent in 2022 to 62 per cent today. “In Quebec, by 2025, public libraries would have needed to purchase 823,582 more printed books to reach the level of excellence required to offer vibrant and well-maintained collections to citizens,” the 64-page document states.

As for the other categories, the score for opening hours reached 57 per cent, up from 54 per cent in 2022, but it is estimated that public libraries should have been open 7,588 more hours to achieve excellence, and it is guessed that staffing problems are largely responsible for this situation.

The surface area category received a score of 66 per cent, with the report explaining that public libraries would need an additional 171,895 square meters to guarantee sufficient space for collections, adequate seating, and smooth user flow. Despite this, the number of seats still received a score of 82 per cent, even though the report indicates a shortfall of just over 12,500.

No subscription or late fees

On the positive side, 99.5 per cent of libraries offer free membership and 88.4 per cent no longer charge late fees. Quebec also ranks first among comparable provinces in terms of service points, with 1.24 service points per 10,000 inhabitants, compared to 0.79 in Ontario, 0.79 in Alberta, and 0.48 in British Columbia.

The report, however, relies on 2023 data to provide an overview, which indicates 1,034 public libraries in Quebec. It also reveals that 96.7 per cent of Quebecers have access to a public library. A telling statistic concerns the 3.3 per cent of Quebecers who do not have access to a public library; these individuals are spread across 266 municipalities, demonstrating the significant challenges faced by remote and very small municipalities in providing such a service.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews