The leader of the provincial NDP wants to see government increase annual funding for public libraries in the upcoming budget.

Earlier this week, the province announced some $600,000 for public libraries. While Jim Dinn was pleased to see that funding, he says it is not enough.

He says that back in 2013 government cut funding for libraries from $1.2 million annually to $950,000.

Since then, he says the cost of books has increased by 40 per cent and other problems related to inflation persist. Dinn notes that use of public libraries increased by 70 per cent during the pandemic.

He is calling for an increase in funding in the 2024 budget.