Warning message

Please note that this page is from our archives. There may be more up-to-date content about this topic on our website. Use our search engine to find out.

Regina: The Director of the Regina Public Library served notice to library employees today that, effective March 1, 2004, public services provided by the library will be dramatically reduced.

The Dunlop Art Gallery and three library branches - Connaught, Prince of Wales and Glen Elm - will be closed effective that date and the Prairie History Room will be significantly restructured. The Director says that the closures will result in the loss of twenty-seven full and part time jobs.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 1594 represents 195 library workers in Regina. Union president Donna Wilde says that, in the unions view, its unconscionable that the Library Director and Board would make such a devastating announcement based on a projected budget shortfall and apparently without advocating to retain and even expand existing services. Our members are in shock, she said. We know that the services we provide are a vital part of our community and we are stunned that the Library Board seems so ready to gut those services and to create terrible turmoil in our members lives.

The union will do what it thinks the Library Board should be doing that is, develop a plan to build on existing services and work to ensure that the money is there to support those services. Wilde says she is confident that the citizens of Regina will support such a plan. She adds that the union will take some time to meet with various community groups and will be prepared to make a detailed public announcement within the next week.

- 30

For more information, contact:
Donna Wilde at 306 533-0677 or Rosemary Oddie at 306 777-6005