About PLS

Through The Public Libraries Act, Public Library Services Branch ensures that Manitobans have access to library services. The branch fulfils this role by administering departmental policy and provincial legislation, providing consultative support and training to libraries and boards, technical services to public libraries and extension services from a central collection.

Director of Libraries and staff at the Public Library Services Branch carry out the purposes of the Public Libraries Act and supplemental regulations, government and Ministerial responsibilities which include the following services:

Administration
Provide operating and collection development funding and grant assistance to public libraries in Manitoba

Development Services
Provide consultative support to municipalities and public libraries on establishment and operation, governance, training boards and library staff and on technical issues.

Extension Services
Provide Open Shelf and Traveling Library Service to residents of municipalities that do not support local library service. In addition to unserved communities, the program staff provide ‘Block Rotations’ of specialty format materials (eg. multilingual and large print) and coordinate resource sharing of library materials between systems; to support local library services.