The provincial government wasn’t afraid to say they made a mistake on Monday, April 24 when they made the announcement to reverse its funding cuts to Saskatchewan’s libraries.
Education Minister Don Morgan told reporters that the government planned to match the $4.8 million allowed in last year’s budget after the outcry from library users across the province.
“For the year 2017, our funding is secure,” confirmed Kindersley librarian Marilyn Shea. “As of Monday we are back to interlibrary loans across the province and we are able to keep most of our own programs going.” Shea added that the jury is still out for the funding for the weekly story time and for the monthly aboriginal story time.
Purolator will now be carting the materials between regions, replacing the previously used STC service. Once the resources are brought within a region, it is the region’s responsibility to move them between branches. In Wheatland’s case, they use a van to move resources.
Shea warns library users to not celebrate the government’s change of heart too quickly, as the government does plan to review the effectiveness of libraries during the 2017 year. In order for libraries to keep their funding, users need to show that they actually do use the services offered.
“If you don’t already have a library card, get one, and start borrowing DVDs, books, CDs, and other resources,” said Shea emphatically, adding that the Wheatland Region also carries extensive online resources.
The Kindersley Library is also looking forward to new hands-on materials for those who are not yet book-lovers. For instance, create-a-craft kits are already available for borrowing as you would a book or DVD. Starting later in May, Kindersley’s library will also partake of the “makerspace” movement; where the library will provide the space and tools for young and old alike to work together in creating and building projects.
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