Protect Your Free Access to Books!
Support the Library Book Rate!

The Library Book Rate began in 1939 as a partnership between the Federal Government, Canada Post, and Canadian libraries. In 2005 it was discontinued as an official government program. Through the lobbying efforts of libraries and library organizations across Canada, Canada Post has provided year-to-year extensions since that time. The future of Library Book Rate is uncertain.

The low cost of Library Book Rate enables you to borrow from libraries across Canada, making 465 million+ library resources available to you, whether you live in rural or urban Canada. The loss of the Library Book Rate could increase costs by 24 times for libraries and greatly reduce your access to information, knowledge, and library services.

You can tell Prime Minister Stephen Harper that you want the Library Book Rate partnership to be part of the federal government's vision for a prosperous Canada. By completing the form below, you can send a message in support of Bill C-321, a Private Members Bill that aims to expand the definition of admissible materials to include all formats of library materials

If you would rather send the Prime Minister a signed letter, please do not hesitate to use the print-version of the message, which you can send free of charge (no postage required).

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

Equitable access to information for all Canadians is required to support the knowledge-based economy of the 21st Century. Libraries help all Canadians, regardless of their language abilities, financial situation, or ability to access physical library spaces, find the information they need to achieve their full potential, learn, innovate and contribute to Canada’s prosperity.

The Library Book Rate is a discount postal rate which has existed since 1939, thanks to a long-standing partnership between the federal government, Canada Post and Canadian libraries. In 2005 the formal agreement expired and the future of Library Book Rate has been uncertain since that time.

I ask that government support the passing of Bill C-321, a Bill that will expand the materials eligible for reduced shipping to include all formats of library materials and stabilize the Library Book Rate. It is also important that responsibility for the Library Book Rate be assigned to a federal department or agency and that Library Book Rate be included in the universal service obligations of Canada Post.

You have the power to ensure that the collections of all libraries remain a national asset available to all Canadians whether we live in rural or urban Canada. Please support my continued access to the 465 million+ materials available from libraries across Canada by supporting Bill C-321.

A concerned Canadian: