A number of library programs are being threatened as the provincial government contemplates grant money for the Fraser Valley Regional Library District.

The money, which is expected to be close to $1.7 million, is mostly used for collaborative programs, such as online resources, BC OneCard, and literacy programming, said Theresa MacLeod, manager of Mission Community Library.

"We've received it every year," she explained. "Grants have been given to public libraries for 90 years. We depend on it."

Typically the FVRL receives the money during the summer, but there is no word on it this year.

The FVRL recently launched the Don't Pull the Plug on Libraries campaign to draw public attention to the issue.

The chair of the FVRL board, Langley mayor Peter Fassbender, also met with education minister Margaret MacDiarmid last Tuesday to explain how the libraries rely on the provincial money.

While Fassbender didn't get a commitment from the minister that funding was on its way, he said he didn't walk away from the meeting disappointed.

"She clearly heard from us ... and she said she knows how important (the grant) is," said Fassbender, who also understands the provincial government is examining the fiscal challenges and everything, including grants, is under review.

However, he pointed out that if any services are lost, it would be much more expensive to bring it back in the future.

The FVRL has been operating all year with the grant in mind.

"We built this into our operating budget, and to not get it, would leave us with a significant challenge."

If the board had known about this sooner, other actions could've been taken, he added.

Fassbender says he will be on "pins and needles" until he hears from the government one way or another, but he has been encouraged by the number of letters and postcards people across the region are sending in to let the government know how important their library is to them.

At the Mission library, there is a postcard patrons can sign to show their support. There is also an online petition and a webiste, www.stopbclibrarycuts.ca, to learn more about the issue.

Programs that rely on the provincial grant are:

• Interlibrary loans

• Union catalog

• Online reference service

• Online resources for all libraries, such as magazines and encyclopedias

• Federations such as Interlink that deliver books between libraries

• Literacy programming

• BC OneCard for all libraries in B.C.