Tag Archives: Saskatchewan

Suggest a new name for the North Central Shared Facility

The Albert Library will be relocated to the North Central Shared Facility. The Albert Branch will still retain the same name – this is a chance to name the new overall facility. Deadline for suggestions is Feb. 28, 2013.

We need a name!

A message from the North Central Shared Facility:

Early in the development of the project it acquired the working title of North Central Shared Facility. It’s time to give it a real name, and with the project actively moving forward it is timely that we do it now. Please see the attached PDF file with more information and a response form. NCSF_NamingForm_V

What do you think it should be called? What name do you think will reflect the values of the community and the purpose and significance of the facility? We need your ideas!

This information is also available on the project website at www.northcentralsharedfacility.ca

Central Library – the Focus for 2013

At the RPL’s AGM on Tuesday January 8, 2013 the RPL Chair noted that work on Central Library would be the main focus of the upcoming year.

Gerry Kleisinger asked that the Library Board would appreciate receiving a presentation from the Library Director about “What will the 21st century library look like?”

The Library Director anticipates that the two remaining documents about Central Library redevelopment will be put on the RPL website later this week. These would be a document about the state of the Central Library building and the space needs for the library. The RPL is also planning to do a survey on its website. They are planning to do a public consultation once they have developed new plans for Central Library. This may occur in March.

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

SK Library Week Oct 15-21,2012

Celebrate Saskatchewan Library Week

Saskatchewan Library Association – poster and book contest winners http://saskla.ca/programs/slw

Saskatchewan Library Trustees Association announcment http://slta.ca/news-events/item/?n=13

Regina Public Library events http://www.reginalibrary.ca/blogs/media/blogs/press/Oct10_Library_Week.pdf

For Immediate Release, October 10, 2012, “Celebrate Saskatchewan Library Week at RPL”

Regina Public Library is celebrating Saskatchewan Library Week, October 15-21, with special programs and prize draws for patrons at all locations.

Each RPL location is offering a prize draw for a great gift basket containing RPL merchandize and a book by a Saskatchewan author. Each entry will also go into the draw bin for a system-wide prize of an eReader.

In honour of Library Week, RPL is pleased to host a reading by Reginan Melanie Schnell, author of While the Sun is Above Us, which tells the story of two women, one Canadian and one South Sudanese, embroiled in Sudan’s Civil War. Ms. Schnell will talk about her visits to Sudan in 2003 and 2005; why she wrote the book; how she translated her experiences into fiction; and the role pop culture can play in fostering public awareness of issues like human trafficking.

The reading will be held at the RPL Film Theatre on Monday, October 15 from 7:00-8:00 pm. Refreshments will be served. To register, visit ReginaLibrary.ca or call 777-6120.

RPL is also hosting the inaugural book launch of Regina-based Wild Sage Press on Wednesday, October 17. The evening will feature author readings of selected poems from How to Be a River by Brenda Niskala and Watermarks by Laura Burkart. These exquisite limited editions are hand bound, numbered and signed. They showcase poetry that is powerful, provocative and engaging. Registration is not required for the launch, which is being held at Connaught Branch from 7:30-8:30 pm.

Regina Public Library (RPL) is a non-profit, Board-run organization dedicated to enriching quality of life in Regina. For over 100 years, RPL has provided open access to materials, programs and services that encourage cultural, economic, educational and recreational development. RPL currently operates Central Library in downtown Regina, as well as eight Branch locations throughout the city, all of which play a key role in supporting the diverse cultures in our community.

For more information please contact: Tony Playter, Manager of Marketing & Communications, Regina Public Library, Phone: 306.777.6015

Leader Post article http://www.leaderpost.com/literacy/raiseareader/Celebrating+library+week+saskatchewan/7389930/story.html

“Celebrating library week in saskatchewan”,  Ministry of Education October 15, 2012

Libraries play a significant role in the knowledge economy and community development, especially in the current information age, where education and lifelong learning require quality information resources and services available to every citizen. The theme chosen for this year’s Saskatchewan Library Week is Celebrating Our Past, Imagining Our Future.

Saskatchewan libraries have a long history of working together across institutional boundaries to share resources and/or services in order to provide access to more resources than they could afford individually. The Multitype Library Board, a minister’s advisory board, facilitates this cooperation among various types of libraries (public, school, post-secondary and special). The different types of libraries support people’s information needs for personal development, lifelong learning and recreation regardless of age, geographical location, income, education level or physical ability.

There are 515,000 registered public library borrowers in Saskatchewan and circulation was over 8 million items last year. Public libraries create and maintain local historical records, host after school programs, provide pre-school programs, family literacy programs and various supports for new immigrants (learning English, locating government services and job search assistance).

All Saskatchewan residents have access to nearly 13,000 full-text online journals, magazines, newspapers and encyclopaedias through the Multitype Database Licensing Program, a purchasing consortium including all public libraries, K to 12 schools (including First Nation schools) and a number of post-secondary and special library partners. It provides equitable access to authoritative information resources at home, at school, on the road or at work.

The Ministry of Education has made significant investments in increasing digitized access to documentary collections of historical and cultural significance to the people of Saskatchewan. To further this goal, the Multitype Library Board created a working group called the Saskatchewan Digital Alliance (SDA), to stimulate collaboration and partnerships between libraries, archives, museums and other heritage institutions.

As part of the Saskatchewan Multitype Digitization Initiative, cultural documents, artefacts, historical records, and First Nations and Métis materials are being captured in digital form and housed on a central, searchable website for the benefit of students, researchers, as well as local, national and international library users. This project is made possible through funding from the Government of Saskatchewan and a partnership between the University Library at the University of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Digital Alliance.

As part of Saskatchewan Library Week and Education Week celebrations, the University Library at the U of S will host a special event on Oct. 16 to showcase a new online portal that provides digital access to a breadth of Saskatchewan’s cultural resources and materials.

The event will begin at 9 a.m. with a short presentation followed by a reception in the second floor ‘Link’ exhibition space in the Murray Library on the U of S campus. No RSVP is required. For more information, please call (306) 966-5927.

© Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post

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.

Plan B at Library Board June 26

We are before the Regina Public Library Board again on Tuesday, June 26th at 4:30 pm to ask the Library Board more questions.
This is their last public meeting until the Fall. 
Please consider coming out and seeing what they have to say. 
Arrive early as there is limited seating and the meeting starts promptly at 4:30 pm.  The Board meeting is in the 2nd Floor Boardroom of the 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