FRPL will have a table at the Cathedral Arts Festival Saturday May 24. Table SF 41. It will be on the east side of Robinson Street next to the Safeway parking lot. Anyone who is able to assist with set-up at 8:30, tear down at the end of the Festival, stay at the table during the Festival, would be appreciated! Also just stop by for a visit!
Regina Public Library “Friends” celebrate milestone
Friends of the Regina Public Library
April 26, 2014 6:51 pm
By Steve Silva Global News
Video http://globalnews.ca/video/1293779/evening-news-apr-26-5
Friends of the Regina Public Library celebrate in Unitarian Centre Saturday afternoon.
Matt Myers / Global News
REGINA – Friends of the Regina Public Library celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the day the city voted to save three libraries from closure, Saturday afternoon.
“I owe these people so much because they gave me so much. Sorry, I’m getting a little choked up about that,” said a slightly emotional Vanessa Thorson, who participated in the celebrations over Skype at the Unitarian Centre.
Thorson, who now lives in Yukon, and several others, birthed the group in response to the city’s plan to close the Glen Elm, Connaught, and Prince of Wales branches in November of 2003.
“We met, probably three or four times a week,” said Thorson.
City council eventually voted to fund the libraries, keeping them open.
The funding came after multiple protests, and a petition with 26,000 signatures.
“I’m very shy, but I knew I had to do it. I just had to do it,” said Catherine Verrall, who protested with the group.
Verrall got about 2,000 of the signatures, beating anyone else involved in the cause.
“I’m quite passionate about community, and I think the library is really, it’s really the heart of the community,” she said.
The sentiment was echoed at the event by those who haven’t used libraries for as long a lifetime.
“You don’t have to go there to read, it’s kind of a nice atmosphere in that sense,” said Candis Froess, a history student at the University of Regina.
Froess hopes to get into a library studies master’s program after graduation.
She’s attended the celebration to learn more about the group’s accomplishments.
“I just think what they did was pretty impressive, and I’m happy that they did it because it might set an example for other communities,” she said.
Since the victory, the group’s mission has evolved.
“In a broad sense, it brings the awareness of the public libraries to the community and how valued they are in the community, and why we need to keep them,” said Jim Elliot, a board member of the group.
And while there is always worry for what the future may bring, the group believes it’s ready.
“The Regina Public Library Board knows there’s always somebody that’s going to be watching them, and making them accountable,” said Thorson.
http://globalnews.ca/news/1293761/regina-public-library-friends-celebrate-milestone/
April 26 – Celebrate 10 years of Keeping the Library Branches Open
JOIN US FOR A CELEBRATION!
10th ANNIVERSARY OF
KEEPING LIBRARY BRANCHES OPEN
Saturday April 26, 2014, 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.
Unitarian Centre, College Ave & Angus Street, Regina
Ten years ago, in November 2003, the Regina Public Library Board announced the closure of Glen Elm, Connaught and Prince of Wales Branches, plus the Prairie History Room and the Dunlop Art Gallery. Friends of the Regina Public Library was formed to galvanize Regina residents to keep these facilities open. On March 5, 2004 a petition of over 26,000 signatures was presented to City Council.
On April 26, 2004 City Council voted for the funding to keep these important library services open.
Join us to hear and share stories from this great achievement!
Enjoy some celebration cake!
For information: e-mail frpl@sasktel.net, website http://www.friendsofrpl.ca
Phone: (306) 352-4804, (306) 535-9570
FRPL April 26, 2014 Anniversary Poster – finalized
—
A message from:
FRIENDS OF THE REGINA PUBLIC LIBRARY (FRPL)
Tel: (306) 535-9570
Web: http://friendsofrpl.ca
Freedom to Read Week
Freedom to Read Week
February 23-March 1, 2014
Freedom to Read Week is an annual event that encourages Canadians to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom, which is guaranteed them under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Freedom to Read Week is organized by the Freedom of Expression Committee of the Book and Periodical Council.
http://www.freedomtoread.ca/freedom-to-read-week/#.Uw0wa-PIa4g
Posted in Uncategorized
Library budget at City Council Mon. Feb. 24 at 5:30 pm
The Regina Public Library budget goes before City Council on Monday, February 24, 2014 at 5:30 pm.
Friends of the Regina Public Library will be making a presentation based on this letter. FRPL to City re RPL budget 2014 – Feb 20 – final
Please attend the City Council meeting to show your support for Friends of the Regina Public Library and for our libraries.
The City Council meeting starts at 5:30. The Library budget is often one the first items discussed.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Albert Library, architecture, Budget, Central Branch, Central Library, City Council, City Councillor, City of Regina, Civic, CUPE, financing, Friends of the Regina Public Library, FRPL, Government of Saskatchewan, libraries, library, library staff, Ministry of Education, modernist, North Central Shared Facility, P3, public private partnership, regina, Regina Public Library, RPL, Saskatchewan
Letter to Minister of Education re SLTA brief
Last year in the Friends of the Regina Public Library’s submission to City Council regarding the Regina Public Library’s 2013 budget we stated that as our province expands and benefits from newcomers from around the world there is an increased demand for library resources in many languages and to some extent for programs such as literacy training. In addition we commented on the importance of the services related to Aboriginal culture and Aboriginal community members and the importance of Outreach services and other services supporting the use of the library’s materials by people with disabilities.
In the fall of 2013 the Saskatchewan Library Trustees Association presented a brief to the Minister of Education and highlighted the first two of these issues. 2013 Ministers Brief – SLTA
FRPL wrote a supporting letter to the Minister of Education supporting the SLTA request for increased funding for Saskatchewan libraries and additional resources for Aboriginal literacy and English as an Additional Language services, as well as for services related to persons with disabilities. FRPL to Hon. Don Morgan Jan 20, 2014
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Aboriginal, Budget, City Council, City of Regina, Disabilities, EAL, English as an Additional Language, Friends of the Regina Public Library, FRPL, Government of Saskatchewan, Literacy, Newcomers, Outreach Services, People with Disabilities, Regina Public Library, RPL, Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Library Trustees' Association, SLTA
Library budget on-line for comment
The draft Regina Public Library Budget has been put on the City of Regina website. It will be going to Executive Committee on Wednesday, January 15th at 11:45 am.
If you want to make a verbal presentation to Executive Committee, you just have to show up and fill in a form. You will have 10 minutes.
The recommendation is to have it forwarded to the February 24th, 5:30 pm City Council meeting. If you wish to make a presentation to City Council, you have to provide a written brief of your remarks to the City Clerk’s Office by Thursday, February 20th at 1 pm. You can email your request and brief to clerks@regina.ca
To see the draft budget go to www.regina.ca/residents/council-committees/meeting-calendar-agenda and then click on the Executive Committee on January 15th and then click on the agenda item EX14-1 on the right hand side and you will either directly see the budget or it will be downloaded to your computer.
Any thoughts on the budget can be sent to FRPL or to your City Councilor if you have concerns or questions. There is likely going to be a FRPL letter sent to City Council in February.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 2014, Albert Library, Budget, Central Branch, Central Library, City Council, City Councillor, City of Regina, CUPE, Friends of the Regina Public Library, FRPL, Government of Saskatchewan, libraries, library, Ministry of Education, North Central Shared Facility, P3, public private partnership, Regina Public Library, RPL, Saskatchewan
“Ten years after near closures, libraries ‘booming’”
Article on the ten year anniversary of threatened library closures.
http://www.leaderpost.com/news/years+after+near+closures+libraries+booming/9225311/story.html
SLTA brief to the Minister of Education
The Saskatchewan Library Trustees’ Association recently presented a brief to the Minister of Education.
SLTA website http://slta.ca/
Direct link to brief http://slta.ca/+pub/document/briefs/2013%20Ministers%20Brief.pdf
Friends commemorate 10th Anniversary of Library closures announcement today
MEDIA ADVISORY
For immediate release: Tuesday November 26, 2013
Friends commemorate 10th Anniversary of Library closures announcement
REGINA, SK — Friends of the Regina Public Library are pausing on November 26 to remember the announcement 10 years ago of library closures.
A presentation will be made to the Regina Public Library Board regular meeting, which this month falls on the date of the initial announcement 10 years ago. The presentation will be at 4:30 pm in the RPL Board Room, second floor, Regina Public Library.
It has been 10 years since the people of Regina were shocked by the announcement by the Regina Public Library that due to budget constraints the RPL intended to close the Prince of Wales, Connaught and Glen Elm Branches, the Dunlop Art Gallery and the Prairie History Room.
A lot has changed in that time. Due to the support of Regina’s citizens, brought forward by the Friends of the Regina Public Library, the RPL budget was increased and no closures occurred. The new members of the RPL Board have remained committed to keeping all branches open. The Prince of Wales and Regent Place branches have in fact been moved to new locations. The Dunlop Art Gallery is going strong. The Prairie History Room continues to provide resources to patrons and the RPL Film Theatre is just in the process of converting to digital projection equipment.
The Friends of the Regina Public Library continues to remain active to draw attention to library issues. We believe that the public needs to keep aware of our libraries and their contributions to the community, and we value openness and accountability in library governance.
November 26th is not necessarily a day to celebrate, but a day to commemorate, so that we don’t forget the need to pay attention to our libraries and support their valuable contribution to the City of Regina.
For more information contact:
Joanne Havelock, Cell (306) 535-9570
Friends of the Regina Public Library 