Advertisement 1

Mayerthorpe Public Library feeling good about provincial funding amidst funding freeze

Article content

Public libraries across the province have grown concerned with the state of provincial funding with the United Conservative Party’s statement to input a funding freeze until a budget is approved.

Advertisement 2
Story continues below
Article content

Kaycee Madu, MLA for Edmonton-South West and Alberta’s Minister of Municipal Affairs, posted to his Twitter account on Aug. 7 reassuring the public that libraries will have what they need in the interim.

The provincial government has approved half of the funding allocated for public libraries. It remains unclear what the plan is for the remaining amounts.

Article content

“We’re not feeling threatened, we are actually feeling ok about it,” said Gloria Wilson, manager of the Mayerthorpe Public Library.

Many smaller communities have vocalized that they may be the first to get hit. Wilson remains positive that the government will see the benefits these spaces provide.

“They have committed to 50 per cent of our funding and the budget hasn’t even passed yet. I think they are seeing that public libraries provide an important service,” she added.

Advertisement 3
Story continues below
Article content

Wilson see’s the glass half full when it comes to only receiving half of their budget, remaining confident that the library can be seen as a community living room where people can gather.

“If you need help, come to the public library. If you want to make a resume, this is where you come. If you want to meet an employment councillor, sometimes it happens here. There are all kinds of things going on supporting the province,” said Wilson.

While many other communities remain uncertain, Mayerthorpe and surrounding areas have continued to show support for the work the library provides.

“We enjoy great support from our community, we are really well taken care of by our town, by Lac Ste. Anne County (and) by Woodlands County … We have people coming out of the woodwork to help us out,” said Wilson

jstricker@postmedia.com

Article content
Comments
You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.
Join the Conversation

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.

Latest National Stories
    News Near Tillsonburg
      This Week in Flyers