Friends of the Regina Public Library

FRPL AGM 1:00 pm Sat. Oct 23. Zoom and phone-in options. In-person at Access Communications Boardroom. People must be double vaccinated and wear masks. Please preregister by emailing frpl (at) sasktel.net or phoning or texting (306) 535-9570.

Lots of interesting updates and discussion about library services and trends, future of Central Library, FRPL future activities. Hope you can join us!

Central Library will NOT be on the RPL Board’s June 22 agenda – the RPL Board is waiting for reports from the consultants. Their next regularly scheduled Board meeting is September 28. It is not know if Central Library will be on the agenda or if or when a special meeting could be called.

However, this is still a good time, before decisions are made, for people to put in some efforts to support the retention of the modernist building and ensure full public involvement in any decisions made. 

Please go ahead and:
– Let FRPL know your thoughts
– Email or write to the RPL Board
– Contact Regina’s Mayor and City Councillors

Please email or phone FRPL if you have an interest regarding Central Library
– Share ideas or information
– Research examples of modernist library buildings
– Assist with planning ways to inform the public
– Other suggestions …..

The future of Regina’s modernist Central Library, may be decided at the RPL Board meeting on June 22, 2021.

A report from Colliers Project Leaders and KPMG to the RPL Board, is expected to be on the RPL Board agenda on June 22, 2021; a draft agenda will be posted on Friday June 11 at https://www.reginalibrary.ca/about/leadership/board-meetings-2021. The deadline for: 1. A submission; and, 2. a request to make a presentation to the Board which must be clearly stated in your email to the Board and in your submission, would be Wednesday June 16 at 12 Noon. See the precise rules for making a submission here, which must be followed.  https://www.reginalibrary.ca/about/leadership/presenting-to-the-board

See more information at https://friendsofrpl.ca/central-branch-2021

The two new City Council representatives on the Regina Public Library Board will be Mayor Sandra Masters and Councilor John Findura.
The full slate of the committees that all the City Councilors are recommended for is in the December 2 City Council meeting packet on pages 88 to 89 http://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/default.aspx

For the FRPL AGM, there are several options for participating.

For those that haven’t Zoomed before: 1. You can join by phone 2. You can click on the meeting link and download Zoom 3. If downloading Zoom doesn’t work for you , you can go to this webpage [https://zoom.us/]. Click on Join a Meeting . Enter the Meeting ID. Enter Passcode.

Email FRPL@sasktel.net to get the Meeting Link, ID and Passcode.

Please try to sign up at 1:15 so we can get settled before the meeting starts at 1:30.

Responding to the Covid crisis has been a process for the RPL, wanting to provide services but having the safety of library patrons and staff as its first priority. On March 16,  the City of Regina announced the closure of recreational facilities and the library branches. At the March 24 meeting of the RPL Board, to the FRPL representatives who attended the meeting via teleconference,  the sense was that the Board would keep staff fully employed as long as possible. To assist during the Covid crisis, on April 2, RPL began sharing computers and servers to analyze data for scientists.  In late April, the RPL extended its free Wi-Fi coverage to encompass the outside areas surrounding its branches. On May 17 it became public through the news media that the RPL was temporarily laying off 100 of its 180 staff, hopefully only for 12 weeks. The staff union and RPL management worked out an agreement about this layoff and the subsequent return to work. The RPL said it would assist people in applying for the federal CERB benefit. That brings us up to the present time, when RPL is able to provide some limited services again, as indicated in the RPL media release of June 4, 2020 …………..

RPL MEDIA RELEASE JUNE 4, 2020

RPL to offer materials returns and curbside pickup

Customers can start returning materials to four library branch locations starting Monday, June 8, and pick up materials starting Monday, June 15.

“Our community has been telling us they need new books to read and with new safety protocols, we’re happy to serve,” Sean Quinlan, Chair of the RPL Board of Directors, said. “Customers can now walk, ride, or run to these four branches and get those items they’ve been waiting for.”

There will be four locations at which materials can be picked up and returned: Central Library, George Bothwell Branch at Southland Mall, Sunrise Branch, and Sherwood Village Branch. These services will be available Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm, and Sunday from 1pm to 5pm. Instructions on how to return library materials are available on RPL’s website: www.reginalibrary.ca. Instructions for curbside pickup are coming soon.

Buildings will remain closed to the public – pickups will be done outside of the branch, and book drops will be unlocked at these four locations during the times listed. Further safety measures will be established for both customers and staff, including social distancing requirements, and a 72-hour waiting period before staff touch returned materials.

“We have put in place safety protocols such as social distancing and cleaning standards consistent with guidelines developed by Saskatchewan Health Authority and Canadian Urban Libraries Council (CULC),” Quinlan said. “We are doing all we can to keep everyone safe, and we ask that customers do their part too.”

Customers who would like further information are encouraged to contact us at 376-777-6000 or email  askalibrarian@reginalibrary.ca. Our hotline hours are 10:00am to 6:00pm, Monday to Saturday, and 1:00 to 5:00pm on Sunday.

……….. Instructions on how to return library materials are available on RPL’s website: www.reginalibrary.ca.