Yorkton residents protest library funding cuts

Saskatchewan’s public libraries bore the brunt of major budget cuts in the most recent provincial budget. In Yorkton, that meant cuts to staff, materials, courier service and available resources. Province-wide, the inter-library loan system is being cut in order to meet the budget shortfall.
The Drop Everything and Read protest, held in 85 locations across the province on April 7 – including at the door of Yorkton MLA Greg Ottenbreit – was a response to these budget cuts, as people gathered in front of government offices to read, to show they value libraries and do not approve of budget cuts. The Yorkton event saw around 100 people sit down, grab a book, and support their public library.
A big part of the protest in Yorkton was a group of students from Yorkdale Central School.  Kendra Helfrich, grade 8 teacher, says that her class planned to do a book project that would have made use of the inter-library loan program, something that they have to reconsider thanks to the cuts.
“We ended up having a whole conversation about how they use the library, how that’s changing, why it’s changing.”
That conversation lead to a group of about 60 students asking how they could support the library, Helfrich explains, and knowing that Drop Everything and Read was happening they wanted to get out and show their support.
“It’s important, and they’re passionate about it, so of course we had to make it happen.”
The variety people reading in front of the office is evidence of the value of libraries, Helfrich says, especially given the wide range of demographics coming out to show their support, whether young kids like her class to senior citizens.
“I think it shows that our libraries are so fundamental to our communities in so many different ways. We have senior citizens here, we have teenagers here, we have parents with young kids. The library supports all of those parts of our community in so many different ways, and I think that’s an important message to remind people. It is a necessary part of our community.”
Former library employee Dick Bolt was at the event, and he brought a sign as well as a book to read, declaring that his book was an inter-library loan.
“Being a former employee, I’ve seen a lot of the cuts over the years. I’m much against what they’re trying to do, it’s an essential service.”
He hopes that the rallies around the province show that there is a need and a desire to keep libraries funded and in operation.
Ottenbreit himself was not available for comment due to his ongoing treatment for colorectal cancer.