Tag Archives: City of Regina

RPL Budget for 2013

At the RPL AGM on January 8, 2013 the RPL Board indicated that it would be asking for a 2.9% increase in its mill rate. The Library Director indicated that the main areas where the increase will be going are: technology spending including self service machines; collections especially e-books and audio books; security at the branches; programming such as “Read to Me” distributing books at hospital to parents of newborns, Aboriginal programming; increased hours at branches.

The RPL will be forwarding its budget to City Council this week and it will be available on Friday the 18th to be tabled at the January 21 meeting of Council. The RPL will not be making a presentation at that time, but will be present at a meeting of the Executive Committee to be held in January/February. The RPL budget will be discussed at City Council in February. At that time Council will decide whether to approve or not approve the RPL’s request for a 2.9% increase in its mill rate.

50 years! Modernist Central RPL: Wednesday, Dec 5th@ 7:30: an architectural walking tour

Wednesday December 5, 2012, 7:30 p.m. – Central Library

Friends of the Regina Public Library would like to celebrate the official opening day, 50 years ago, of the Izumi-designed modernist Central Library by inviting the public to join us in a walking tour of Central Library. People are invited to talk about a specific part of the architecture of Central Library that touches them, a special place within the library that they love, or a library service that they could not live without. We welcome contributions from the audience.

RPL Central opening 1962 - program cover

RPL Central opening 1962 – program cover

See the original stylishly cool programme (with details on space for future expansion) for inspiration!! RPL50thAnniversary -original opening program in 1962   Also note the star-studded list of presenters at the event.

For a poster to publicize the event click here Celebrate 50 yrs Central Library – poster Nov 25

Central Library architectural document posted

After repeated requests from FRPL for release of this information to the public, the document prepared by architects concerning the upgrade to Central Library have just been posted at http://www.reginalibrary.ca/cld/

To view all the pages on the site, click on the Quick Links below as well as the links at the top of the webpage.

Or link to the document here Feasibility Study Report – Final – 2011

 

All Candidates Forum – Sept 25

 
On October 24, Reginans go to the polls to elect our new Mayor and City Councillors.Make your voice heard
at the municipal election All-Candidates Forum

Tuesday, September 25, 2012
7:00 – 9:00 pm
FREE AdmissionLocation: Regina Christian School – 2505 23rd Ave (at Albert St., in gymnasium)
Moderator: Mitch Diamantopoulos, Department Chair, University of Regina School of JournalismCome learn where mayoral and city council candidates from all wards stand on important local issues – affordable housing, food security, public transit, and more.7:00 – 8:00 pm: Mayoral candidate forum. Bring written questions for Regina’s potential mayors to answer!

8:00 – 9:00 pm: All-candidates meet and greet. Meet the mayoral candidates and city council candidates from all city wards.

Sponsored by Clean Green Regina, Friends of Regina Public Library, Making Peace Vigil, Queen City Tenants Association, Real Food Regina, Real Renewal, Regina Anti-Poverty Network, Regina and District Labour Council, and Regina Citizens Public Transit Coalition.

Eventbrite: http://electionforum.eventbrite.ca/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/143149345828948/

No Plan, No P3 for Library

NEWS RELEASE: Wednesday June 27, 2012

“No Plan, No P3 for Library”

REGINA — The Friends of the Regina Public Library were astonished Tuesday afternoon to hear that the Regina Public Library now has no plan for the rejuvenation of Central Library.

The Regina Public Library Board disclosed it had spent about $400,000 on feasibility and design studies, which became largely useless when the Masons declined to sell their neighbouring building. The work apparently provided no alternative plans, according to the Library Board Chair.

While the Friends would like to retain the existing Central Library building for heritage and environmental reasons, the need for some major renovations is pressing. There is a need for new elevators, a new heating system, a functioning accessibility ramp and many other upgrades.

“We find it troubling that is no alternate plan. These problems have been documented for many years,” said Jim Holmes, member of the Friends of the RPL.

The Library did commit to release the report detailing the reasons why the Board feels that the Central Library needs to double in size.

The Friends were happy to hear the Library Board has abandoned a public-private partnership (P3) for the Central Library. Chairperson Darlene Hincks Joehnck claimed the Friends would never understand P3’s but evidently she understands them well enough to know it is not a good idea for the Regina Public Library.

Without a plan, the Board does not foresee any public consultations over the summer.

“We are pleased that the Library Board has informed us that it will not be pressing for quick decisions and holding hasty consultations during the summer, a time when it is difficult for the public to participate,” said Joanne Havelock, Chair of the Friends. The Friends are hoping this means there will be no decisions made on Central Library until after the October Civic Elections.

The news was revealed at an RPL Board meeting held on Tuesday, June 26 after repeated requests from the Friends for information about planning for Central Library.

Masons to stay

The Masons have just announced that they will not sell the Masonic Temple – they will be staying in their building.

Don Kerr presentation June 13, 7pm

Please join us for an evening with Saskatchewan Poet Laureate, Don Kerr

Doors open at 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at The Artesian 2627 13th Avenue, Regina. Everyone is welcome to this public meeting sponsored by Friends of the Regina Public Library. Donations gratefully accepted.

Don Kerr is a strong advocate of public libraries and heritage conservation. He is the author of A Book in Every Hand, which celebrates the history of public libraries and chronicles the struggles and triumphs of this world-class, made-in-Saskatchewan achievement. Don taught English at the University of Saskatchewan for forty years. He has written short stories, non-fiction, poetry and produced five plays. Don Kerr has worked for architectural preservation and has served on many organizations dedicated to culture and the arts.

The evening will include an update on the Library Board’s proposed redevelopment of Central Library and a public discussion of this plan.

For more information call 535-9570

Poster FRPL_Jun13_mini_poster

 

FRPL continues to question Library Board

 On Tuesday, May 22nd, The Friends of the Regina Public Library (FRPL) will once again ask the Library Board for more information about the plans for Central Library, and is challenging the Board’s assertion that it has held extensive public consultation.

“We are aware that there have been private discussions with organizations and with City Council members about Central Library, but these have not been shared with the public,” said Joanne Havelock, chair of the Friends of the Public Library. “What does the Library Board consider public consultations to be?”

FRPL is also recommending changes to the Library Board’s meeting process. In recent years, the public meeting has become brief, with the majority of the Board’s discussion held after the public meeting is adjourned. “Accepted practice is that human resources and contract negotiations are reviewed in camera, but other business topics could be discussed in the public meeting,” said Ms. Havelock.  “This would make library governance more democratic, giving the public the opportunity to know what decisions are being made and why.”

The Friends is also requesting that the Board’s meeting agenda be posted in advance on the RPL’s website, and that minutes be posted in a timely manner.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 22 at 4:30 p.m. in the 2nd Floor Boardroom of the Regina Public Library. It is open to the public.

City’s P3 Policy

On March 21, 2012 FRPL made a presentation  to the City’s Executive Committee and then to City Council on March 26 expressing concerns about a new procurement policy for public-private partnerships.

The City’s Policy cr12-30 – City’s P3 purchasing policy

FRPL letter de12-27 – FRPL – purchasing policy

CUPE Saskatchewan Division presentation de12-26 CUPE presentation – purchasing policy

CUPE locals 7 & 21 presentation cupe7-21-brief – purchasing policy

City decisions cc0326-public-decisions – March 26, 2012

LeaderPost article “P3 funding alternative approved” http://www.leaderpost.com/news/funding+alternative+approved/6370168/story.html

Prairie Dog article “P3 or not P3?” http://www.prairiedogmag.com/archive/?id=1185