By Roger White

‘We knew cuts were coming, but not like this’ :Library Director

Mar 23, 2017 | 12:20 PM

Eleanor Crumblehume knew cuts to library services were coming with Wednesday’s 2017 provincial budget; she just had no idea how drastic they would be.

“We absolutely expected cuts with this budget, but I don’t think anyone saw this coming,” Crumblehume, the director of the Lakelands Library said. “We thought maybe 10 per cent at worst but no one anticipated a 58 per cent cut in funding…no one.”

Finance minister Kevin Doherty said tough decisions had to be made when the province delivered its 2017 budget yesterday trying to eliminate a 1.2 billion dollar deficit and no sector went unscathed.

The province announced that the seven library regions would receive 2.5 million dollars in 2017 which represents a 3.5 million dollar cut in funding over last year.

“Last year Lakelands received $814,000 which was used to fund staff, activities and delivery that helped to support the services we offered,” Crumblehume noted. “With losing $472,000 there’s no way we can continue business as usual.”

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The funding cuts come just weeks after a report was presented to North Battleford City Council that showed in 2016 the North Battleford Library had over 750 people joined as new members and that computer usage was up by 78 per cent.

“Personally I’m very frustrated because this is going to have a disproportionate impact on rural communities in the province not just the Lakelands Library region,” Crumblehume added.

She also pointed out that it was too soon to discuss what changes would be coming to services or what cuts would be made however she did acknowledge that measures would have to be taken.

“Obviously we will try to minimize the impact but there is just no way our headquarters can function on $342,000.  This budget will result in the re-organization of within each region for sure,” she said.

Email: roger.white@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @battlefordsNow