Preparing for the worst

Earlier, we exclusively reported Vancouver city librarian Paul Whitney has been developing a contingency plan in the event his library doesn't receive its annual operating grant from the provincial government. But Mr. Whitney isn't alone in preparing for the worst. Surrey chief librarian Beth Barlow told Public Eye last week her trustees are meeting tonight. "And we'll be talking with our board about what we might do if, indeed, this happens and there is a major cut to the funding from the province." In 2008, Surrey received a $84,888 grant from the government, making up 6.7 percent of its budget.