The Yorkton Public Library is finally close to being back in its familiar location on Broadway Street after being displaced for some 18-months by the flooding July 1, 2010.
When the library does re-open for full service Dec. 7, the collection will be smaller, about 15 per cent smaller.
Dierdre Crichton, Parkland Regional Library Director, said since the flood they have trimmed some 25,000 items out of the collection. The Regional Library has about 340,000 items in its overall collection, about half of those in Yorkton, with the remainder spread over its 54 other branches.
The lost items are not all a direct result of the flooding, added Crichton, who said in the process of moving to the temporary location at the Parkland Mall they took the opportunity to weed out damaged books.
Still the flooding did take a significant toll on the collection.
"We did lose all our DVDs and videos, and a good portion of the children's collection was lost in the flood," said Crichton. "That area was hardest hit."
In terms of beginning to rebuild the collection, it won't be done with insurance money.
Crichton said they did have insurance on the books but it was decided not to make a claim based on the $25,000 deductible, and the fact the library could not do the work associated with a claim.
"We didn't have the time and staff to process that amount of material," she said.
Crichton said the Regional Library does have an annual materials acquisition budget.
"We do have to spend a certain amount for the collection each year," she said, adding the budget for the region is $254,000. The money comes largely from a provincial grant, and a portion of municipal levies.
However, Crichton pointed out typically the City of Yorkton levy is not dedicated to collection purchases, but goes to cover staffing costs at the Yorkton Public Library. This year though some City funds were targeted at the purchase of new DVDs and audio books.
With limited funds, Crichton said replenishing the collection will take time.
"We will slowly be building up the collection again," she said.
While the number of hard copy books will be smaller, Crichton said technology may help offset the impact, as the library now offers digital downloads.
The situation, while far from ideal, does offer the library an opportunity too, offered Crichton. She said the way books are now tracked when taken out allows the library to glean more information on what is popular.
"We'll start analyzing the usage of the collection a lot more," she said, adding that will allow them to target replacement purchases to areas people are most interested in. "We'll be able to see what's beneficial to have in the collection, to see how things circulate."
Crichton said the move has allowed the library to make some changes as well.
For example there will be a 'family area' that promotes parents visiting the library with children five and under.
"We're making it more inviting," said Crichton, adding the area will promote the five development areas to create a
