James Richards
James Richards, regional branch manager of the Southeast Regional Library in Weyburn, is thrilled the province reversed its decision to slash regional library funding by 58 per cent.The provincial government announced Monday they were reversing their 58 per cent funding cut to regional libraries announced in the budget in March. All $4.8 million is going back to the libraries.

"Sheer relief and then quickly followed by happiness, but I think relief is the biggest thing. Everyone is taking a huge, big sigh and leaning back in their chairs right now. (I'm) just glad there's a resolution and it's a good one," said James Richards, regional branch manager of the Southeast Regional Library in Weyburn.

The Sask Party government's decision to slash 58 per cent of funding from the regional library system put an almost immediate end to the inter-provincial library loan system and also cut off electronic streaming resources in the southeast. According to CUPE, about a dozen library staff across the province were laid off in the roughly one month between announcing the budget and restoring funding.

The funding the the province originally cut amounted to one-third of one per cent of the province's entire $14.8 billion budget.

“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 release yesterday. “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. So today I am announcing restoration of library funding as well as a consultative review with the Saskatchewan libraries and municipalities to determine the way forward in terms of what is best for library users and communities as well as what is also financially responsible.”

mayor roy at DEAR protest
Weyburn Mayor Marcel Roy stood in support of libraries at the Drop Everything And Read protests but is glad the city will not longer have to foot the bill to cover the province's funding cuts.

The restoration of provincial funding for regional libraries means municipal funding increases are no longer needed, according to Richards. He also said they were working to get the interprovincial loan system and online streaming resources available again as soon as possible for library patrons.

"It's not quite as easy as just canceling it because it was a vote by the regional board so we can't just up and ignore that. We have to jump through a few parliamentary hoops, but those will just be formalities," he explained.

Weyburn Mayor Marcel Roy also expressed his relief that the city would now longer have to provide increased funding with an already reduced budget this year. He said during council it would save the city roughly $60,000.

Richards also said they were working to get the interprovincial loan system and online streaming resources available again as soon as possible for library patrons. He said getting things running again "isn't as simple as flipping a switch" but they hope to have some services running again by next week.

The government does not often reverse budget cut decisions. When Discover Weyburn asked Richards what he felt contributed to the turn-around, he said it was a joint effort. He mentioned the Drop Everything and Read (DEAR Sask) campaign, the support of NDP Education Critic Carla Beck and other grassroots efforts.

"Individual people were talking with their MLAs and writing emails and letters, phone call campaigns. I think all of that combined sent a very strong message," he said. 

"Us here at Southeast, we're just thankful that this happened. We're happy the government had the courage to re-examine their earlier decision. I know that's not an easy thing to do or to admit so we are very thankful for that," said Richards.

dearsaskprotests apr 7
The Drop Everything and Read protest on April 7 was part of the province-wide campaign to restore regional library funding. In Weyburn, roughly 200 protesters gathered outside Weyburn-Big Muddy MLA Dustin Duncan's office to show their disapproval of the cuts. The protest was organized by Weyburn resident, Leslie Richards.