Regina: Information picket lines will be set up outside the citys libraries on Thursday and Friday, as CUPE library workers take to the streets to urge city councillors and the library board to shelve the cuts.
A proposal by the library board to close three library branches and reduce library services generated a storm of protest in Regina that still rages three months later. Many citizens are angry the library board chose to reduce services instead of raising more revenues. The library closures and cuts to 30 library positions are to take effect May 1.
But a petition signed by more than 26,000 Regina residents is calling on city council to provide sufficient funds to the library board to maintain all existing library services.
The library board has until the end of this month to submit its budget request to the city. Library supporters are hoping the board responds positively to the publics demand that it request more funds to maintain library services.
When you consider the library board only needs to request an increase of about $10 per household to avert any closures or lay-offs, it appears the crisis facing our public library system had more to do with leadership than money, says CUPE 1594 President Donna Wilde.
The information pickets, to be held over the noon hour both days, will be set up outside the branch libraries (excluding George Bothwell and Prince of Wales) on Thursday, March 18, and outside the central library on Friday, March 19.
CUPE library workers will hand-out bookmarks at the information pickets, urging citizens to tell the library board and city councillors to shelve the cuts to Reginas public library system.
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For more information call Donna Wilde at 533-0677