FRPL has sent in a letter about the RPL budget. https://friendsofrpl.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/frpl-to-city-re-rpl-budget-2021-mar-22-2021-final.pdf
We will be making a presentation sometime after 1 pm Wed. Mar 24. To see the budget meeting agenda go to the City website https://www.regina.ca/city-government/city-council/council-meetings/ http://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/default.aspx
On Feb. 5, members of the public talked about what they would like to see in library services at Central Library. The participants also gave many suggestions regarding the library building, such as:
These suggestions have been made in the past, and the Library Board claims to have looked at them. But the public has not seen any reports that review these ideas.
The library must first look at what services it wants to provide. This was part of previous consultations with the public and library staff. https://www.reginalibrary.ca/cld/ The public views will be updated by the current survey. The summation of these ideas should be presented to the public for thorough discussion and prioritization.
The public should also see engineering and architectural reports on the possibilities of the many options concerning the Central Library building, including costs.
After public consensus is achieved, then decisions should be made and efforts to get community support behind funding options could go ahead.
CORRECTION The RPL survey deadline is actually MIDNIGHT Feb 20.
Thurs. Feb. 20 at 9 AM is the deadline for filling in the survey about Central Library.
The consultants will be compiling their report for decisions by the Library Board. The next public RPL Board meeting is March 24. It is not clear if they will be deciding at that point in time on the major directions of: renovating Central Library, adding on to the current building or demolishing the building and adding on. It is unclear whether the RPL Board will share a tentative decision for public feedback before making the decision final. However, the discussions at the public meeting on Feb. 5 seemed to indicate that the Board would just go ahead with its decision based on the consultants report, “sometime in the spring”..
Of course, later on the consultants will certainly present pictures of design details, but that will not give public scrutiny to the Board’s major decision.
The RPL has a survey about Central Library.
– fill it out online https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DCBBK5Y
– print and fill in the attached PDF and bring to a library
– ask for a print copy at any library branch to fill in there
The deadline for filling out the survey is not know, but the consultants want to get their report done in the next couple of months, so try to fill out the survey in the next few days. Public opinion does work and we are the public.
Some things to note:
– The questions are reasonably open-ended.
– Question 8 allows you to add your own comments.
– Question 5 neglects to mention:
………..the Prairie History Room
………..being a source for reference material and research
………..literacy programs
………..Outreach Services https://www.reginalibrary.ca/services/outreach
– The survey doesn’t ask whether you would like to see the current building preserved or ask ideas about how the space could be expanded (extra floors, build on to the west, build up-and-over, use the City Hall parkade for parking, locate some services in another building). How to improve it cost-effectively. Please indicate your suggestions.
– Think about what the Central Library’s role should be in Regina’s downtown. And the options for other organizations or buildings to fill these roles.
We encourage you to look at the previous reports.
Project Main page https://www.reginalibrary.ca/about/major-projects
Previous reports https://www.reginalibrary.ca/cld/
– Dialogue community survey
– Central Library building assessment
– Development plan, lots of information and ideas here, see page 85-86 for overview of site, ideas about each area of the library, services that could be provided and space needed.
FRPL members will be meeting to discuss plans concerning Central Library. If you would like to participate in these discussions, please email us, or phone (306) 535-9570
Over 100 people turned out for the meeting on Feb. 5 ! Most were in favour of retaining the current library building, some agreeing with renovations or additions if needed. Many good questions were asked and suggestions made. Here is CTV news coverage https://regina.ctvnews.ca/regina-public-library-looking-to-improve-downtown-location-1.4801093?fbclid=IwAR1vhRuZjsJ9W-y9B8lMfR-1qbB05nSD3FGOJO–9XjsTtbs811j1qR91Ao
PLEASE ATTEND as these meetings by consultants will guide future steps regarding Central Library.
See invitation letter from RPL below and attached poster. More information is also available on the RPL website https://www.reginalibrary.ca/about/major-projects
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Tagged architecture, Biblio Files, Building Assessment, Central Branch, Central Library, City Council, City of Regina, Friends of the Regina Public Library, FRPL, heritage, Knox Metropolitan Church, libraries, library, Masonic Temple, Masons, modernist, public consultation, regina, Regina Public Library, RPL, Saskatchewan
City Hall will offer its approval or disapproval of the RPL request for a 2.3% increase in its mill rate. FRPL will be making a presentation to City Council about the RPL 2020 budget on December 9, 2019 at 5:30. FRPL is first on the agenda right at 5:30. https://www.regina.ca/city-government/city-council/council-meetings/ The FRPL presentation starts on page 8 of the agenda packet. http://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/default.aspx Also available for download here FRPL to City re RPL budget 2020 – final
The RPL Budget was first discussed by the City at the Executive Committee meeting on November 13 http://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/calendar.aspx
The RPL budget starts on page 103 of the Agenda Packet for the November 13 meeting of Executive Committee http://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=3952&Inline=True
Public presentations will be on December 9, City Council will then meet on December 10 to handle motions relate to budget items. So the actual vote on the RPL budget mill rate request may not occur until December 10. This two day process is new to City Council this year.
Biblio Files: A History of the Regina Public Library will be launched on Saturday October 28 at 3 pm at the Central Library in Regina.
Sign up here for the publisher University of Regina Press’ Facebook event page
FRPL AGM Sat Oct 21, 2017, 1:30 PM, Artful Dodger, 1631 11th Avenue. It’s been a significant year for libraries in the province. Topics include: Central Library, Prairie History Room, new Albert Library, RPL Strategic Plan, Provincial library funding, FRPL Events, History Book launch
1. The petition calling for funding cut-backs has regularly been presented in the legislature by MLA Carla Beck. A copy can be downloaded here https://savesasklibraries.ca/action-centre Petition_Libraries_2017_03_24 Save Sask Libraries petition instructions Mar 28, 2017
2. The petition calling for a referendum on restoring library funding is well on its way to getting the 125,000 signatures required to legally force a referendum. See the website at http://www.votelibrarypetition.ca/ Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/librarypetition/
VOTE Library Petition VOTE Petition FAQs VOTE Library Petition signing instructions
Volunteers are need to assist in this process by collecting signatures at public events.
Thanks to library supporters for all the letter-writing, phone calls, petition signing and attending events. The government is now in the process of reviewing its budget on library funding! There may be Cabinet meetings concerning the budget this weekend – so keep on contacting your MLA!
1. The two RPL sessions on how the budget cuts would affect services in Regina and province-wide were very well attended. Information about the situation affecting the RPL and provincial library services is located at https://www.reginalibrary.ca/about/in-the-media
2. The Saskatchewan Library Association has the RPL information, plus other facts, and a good updated list of items that have been in the media. https://www.reginalibrary.ca/about/in-the-media
3. The Saskatchewan Library Trustees’ Association also has a position statement, media reports, and responses to the budget cuts from across Canada. http://slta.ca/
4. The movement across Saskatchewan is highlighted on the Save Saskatchewan Libraries (formerly Support Our Saskatchewan Libraries) Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1863999523837974/
5. Actions being taken are at the website https://savesasklibraries.ca/news/
