By Tyler Marr

‘Really good day for libraries’ says Wapiti Director on cut reversal

Apr 25, 2017 | 6:00 AM

In a massive budgetary reversal, the provincial government is walking back it’s funding cuts for Saskatchewan libraries.

After a wave harsh criticism and protests, the government announced Monday it would restore funding to Saskatchewan libraries at 2016 – 17 levels, admitting the initial move was a ‘mistake’. The change will provide $4.8 million in additional funding to the $3.5 million that was announced in the budget. It is also expected the One Card, One Province system will be restored.

“Premier Wall has always said that we would be the kind of government that would admit its mistakes and then fix those mistakes,” Education Minister Don Morgan said in a statement. “There were many necessary, difficult decisions taken in this budget, however, the reductions in library funding without giving libraries the tools to meet the new challenge was a mistake.”

Prince Albert’s Wapiti Regional Library, who prior to today’s announcement was to be faced with a 58 per cent slash to their $1 million funding grant, were “thrilled” at the announcement.

“This is a really good day for libraries in Saskatchewan,” Regional Director Tony Murphy said. “And it is a good day for the public to have their voice heard too.”

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Murphy said the uprising of support spoke to the crucial role libraries play in the community, saying they are “the heart of a thriving democratic society.”

Though Wapiti’s funding has been restored, it remains at 2015 levels, as the library has been handed “oxymoronic zero per cent increases” for the past several years.

Yet, had the change of course not been made, Wapiti would have been pushed to make “some very big changes,” such as shuttering branches and working towards a reinvention of what the regional library could be.

The province had previously suggested placing the cost burden on municipalities, despite a partnership that already sees them coughing up cash to support the facilities, covering costs for things like heating, lighting and internal structures.

“I think if nothing else, the government now realizes you can’t just put it all onto the municipalities because they are already working at a really high level with us to provide these services,” Murphy said.

Alongside the announcement came calls for consultation between libraries, municipalities and the public to develop “a long-term strategy for the future of libraries.” This is set to include a review of The Public Libraries Act, and partnerships to find efficiencies for transportation and co-location as a way to ensure the most effective use of available resources.

Murphy welcomed the invitation, but said the talks were something that “obviously should have taken place before the cuts were made.”

“We would have happily sat down with the government and asked how can we help,” he said, adding Wapiti has already taken great strides in working to find efficiencies to make their operation as frugal as possible.

Chiming in on co-location and other recommendations, Murphy said there were no blanket solutions and though opportunities could be found, everything would come at a cost.

“There are some thing’s you pay for to have bragging rights. These are the things we do that cost us the money but the dividends…are very positive bragging rights.”

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr