“The recently announced cuts and potential closures of Wapiti Regional Library branches are just the latest in a series of job and service cuts impacting Saskatchewan’s Regional Libraries. CUPE members were impacted by recent job cuts at the Southeast Regional Library when adult programming positions were eliminated in Weyburn and Estevan to address funding shortfall. Similarly, the director of the Palliser Regional Library recently spoke to media about funding issues the library system faces, saying provincial funding has stagnated for 15 years and that the provincial government is failing to find solutions to promote the sustainability of the regional library system.
We agree. We know regional libraries are the heartbeat of communities and join organizations like SARM and SUMA in their calls for funding increases to ensure regional libraries remain sustainable. It’s clear the currently regional library funding system isn’t working and risks ongoing layoffs, cuts, and closures of vital libraries in communities across Saskatchewan.
Regional libraries are worth saving. That’s why we are calling for the cuts and closures to be reversed and for the provincial government to undertake a comprehensive review of the Regional Library funding system that engages workers, community members, and impacted rural and urban municipalities.”
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