The Palliser Regional Library system held its annual general meeting on April 29. Highlights included delayed Story Trails installations, Palliser headquarters’ new mural, rapid test kits, the dissolution of the SLTA, and no new provincial funding … again.
The annual report echoed last year's with the subtitle "What a Year! Again!"
The reports can be read at palliserlibrary.ca/annual_reports.
New South Hill mural
“I’m so proud of it, I put (the picture of it) everywhere,” said Jan Smith, director of the Palliser Regional Library, speaking about the new mural at the South Hill HQ. “That’s just the easiest way to say it. And I just wanted to thank South Hill Community Association for organizing and paying for the newest mural on South Hill.”
The mural cost approximately $5,000 and was completed in October after four weeks of work by Moose Jaw artist Carly Jaye Art. Carly Jaye Art recently won the Community Involvement Award at the Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce’s MJBEX Awards.
Smith said one of the benefits of the mural is that it makes Palliser HQ easier to find — a big help with people looking for rapid tests, for example.
Libraries are essential and can assist with public health
In September, libraries were designated as essential services, exempting them from vaccination passports and enabling a late-November partnership with Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) to hand out rapid COVID tests to the public.
As of the end of March 2022, Palliser and its associated branches have handed out over 15,000 rapid tests kits. This puts the library system on the radar of public health, Smith said.
“Our 2020 plan has stood us in good stead over the last two-plus years,” Smith continued. “It gave us the flexibility for communities to adjust local-level services offered depending on the local COVID situation and the SHA recommendations for that town or village… Our relationship with the SHA continues to grow as we continue to coordinate and deliver to all branches the rapid COVID tests.”
The Palliser re-opening plan is currently on track for a full return to normal operations by July 12.
'Follow the Plot' Story Trails
The Follow the Plot Story Trails plan for 2021 has definitely fallen behind schedule.
“OK, yeah, I admit, we’re running a little bit late on that,” Smith said.
Smith reported that all 200 “of the actual things that have to go into the ground” are ready for delivery to the eight branches that will receive them. However, Shadow Ranch in Mossbank has had manufacturing issues and is now having mud issues, apparently — they can’t get their heavy trucks out of the yard to deliver the completed story posts.
The Story Trails will feature popular children’s books in page-by-page, weather-proof installations along walking trails. As families walk the trail, they can read the story, complete with activities and QR codes for social media participation.
Palliser had asked for $97,000 in federal funding from the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative, but received only $30,000. Nevertheless, they decided to proceed with the project because of demand and popularity.
Dissolution of SLTA amid funding struggles
Smith said that the Saskatchewan Library Trustee Association (SLTA) has dissolved. The SLTA was established in 1967 as a volunteer organization advocating for library services.
“The concept of the SLTA is very good, but it needs a major overhaul,” Smith said. “We need it, because we need to be able to get to (MLA Greg Lawrence) and his colleagues.”
She said that the SLTA was simply not functioning as intended, and a revamp is being investigated.
Part of the problem is the lack of provincial funding.
“We got a zero per cent increase this year,” Smith reported. “Which equals an increase of 4.21 per cent over 10 years.”
The regional library directors are very concerned, she said. Despite advocacy and resolutions from the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) and the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), the provincial has repeatedly declined to increase funding for the library systems to keep pace with inflation.
The financial status of Palliser as of the end of 2021 seems to be on par with 2020 — with each year that does not see a funding increase at least equal to inflation, the library system will be forced to make some form of cut to balance their budget.
