(Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Support for local library

Town approves new funding agreement for Battleford Library

Oct 21, 2021 | 5:28 PM

Battleford town council has given the go ahead for a new five-year funding agreement between the town and Battleford Library.

Town Parks and Recreation manager Jordan Schechtel presented a report on the matter during this week’s council meeting.

The agreement allows the library to purchase up to $500 per year worth of books, audio/video or other materials, and be reimbursed by the town. This agreement is separate from the $83,752 in yearly requisition fees the town pays to Lakeland Library Region. Under the Public Libraries Act, the town is required to provide financial support to maintain the library services.

The funding agreement helps make sure the library has a steady flow of new and up-to-date materials. The town has been offering this type of support to the library dating back to at least 2009.

The current funding agreement covering 2017 to 2021 finishes at the end of this year, so it was time to renew it for another five years from 2022 to 2026.

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“The agreement just provides the library with a little bit of extra funding to purchase additional materials, audio/video equipment, that sort of thing,” Schechtel said. “This is over and above the yearly requisition that the town pays to the [Lakeland] Library Region.”

He noted that from 2017 to 2020, the Battleford Library claimed only $500 worth of expenses. Under the new agreement, they would be able to claim up to $2,500 worth of expenses in total over next five years.

Coun. Shelley Boutin-Gervais, who sits on the library board on behalf of the town, said the library will be pleased to know they will continue to have a little extra funds for their purchases of new books and other resources.

“There has been a lot of clean-up in the library now,” she added. “If you haven’t been, please stop by and meet the new librarian, and [look at] some of the new things that are available to us.”

Coun. Judy Pruden supported the agreement, and said she is glad to hear about improvements at the library.

Mayor Ames Leslie was also supportive, and said it’s good to see the Battleford Library is still staying strong in the community.

“It’s nice to see the library going, especially as a person who likes to read himself,” he said.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow