Moe government wants public input on report about future of libraries
After consultations with key stakeholders about the importance and future of libraries in Saskatchewan, the provincial government is now asking for public feedback through an online survey.
The survey will ask for input on a report written by the Ministry of Education’s legislative secretary, Terry Dennis, that summarizes a series of engagement sessions the province had with library sector representatives and stakeholders.
“Our government understands how much Saskatchewan residents value their libraries and we are committed to continuing to support the contributions libraries make to our communities,” said deputy premier and Minister of Education Gordon Wyant in a news release issued Thursday.
“I invite all Saskatchewan residents to read the report and provide us with their thoughts through an online survey.”
A panel made up of Dennis, two public library directors and the Saskatchewan provincial librarian led engagement sessions that began in Saskatoon on Oct. 10 and ended in Regina on Dec. 10.
During that time, the panel met with representatives from 11 public library systems, including board members, staff and municipal representatives.
They also conducted in-person engagement sessions with library stakeholders, including the Saskatchewan Library Trustees Association, the Saskatchewan Library Association, the Multitype Library Board, the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association and the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities.
In addition to in-person consultations, the panel received several written submissions from other sector stakeholders, including Library Services for Saskatchewan Aboriginal Peoples, according to the news release.
The resulting report outlines eight themes identified by Saskatchewan’s library sector during the engagement process: Funding Structure and Predictability; Provincial Public Library Strategic Plan; “One Card, One Province”; Communication; Governance Training; Indigenization; Value of Public Libraries; and Legislation.
“The themes presented will now form the basis of the next stage of the engagement process: to ask the public to provide feedback on the report,” said the release.
“This process fulfils the commitment made by the government of Saskatchewan in the spring of 2017.”
A summary of the survey results will be posted online “at a later date,” and the Minister of Education will consider the survey results and public feedback when determining priorities and next steps moving forward, according to information on the Saskatchewan government’s website.
A link to the survey can be found on the government’s website. The survey remains open until Jan. 25.
We are committed to continuing to support the contributions libraries make to our communities.