Jolys Regional Library seeks St Malo space after budget cut

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This article was published 22/05/2024 (362 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The board chair for Jolys Regional Library said a budget cut from the RM of De Salaberry will greatly affect its services as it seeks a new space in St Malo.

The RM council made the decision to only fund the library 50-50 with the Village of St-Pierre-Jolys after deciding the library board needed more pressure to find some sort of space for patrons in St Malo. It had been funding on a per capita basis before that.

Library board chair and St Pierre citizen representative Paule Peloquin said based on 2023 information, 64 percent of active users are from De Salaberry, 35 percent are from St Pierre, and one percent are non-residents.

St Malo has been without a library space in the community since August of 2022. The library board made a presentation to Red River Valley School Division (RRVSD) in the hopes of getting back space in the expanded St Malo School, but the school board decided at its May 1 meeting to lease the extra room to two childcare providers for preschool and before and after school daycare instead.

“We have been investigating other options for us since 2020 just in case but we were hoping to renew our partnership with the RRVSD and return into Ecole St Malo School,” wrote Peloquin via email.

The library board is made up of Peloquin, head librarian Nicole Gregoire who is currently on leave, St Pierre council representative Suzanne Jolicoeur, De Salaberry citizen representative Caycie Dueck, and De Salaberry council representative and vice chair Charlene Geiler.

Peloquin said the De Salaberry cut is a double cut with how the province funds it.

“The budget cut affects us greatly as we are a non profit and our budgets are always tight. But what is important to note is that Public Library Services has just changed their formulas for calculating our provincial grants and these will be based on the municipal contributions received in 2023. A reduction at the municipal level this year means we will also get a reduction at the provincial level starting in 2025,” wrote Peloquin.

She said statistics show while circulation numbers have increased from other wards, there has been a decrease in St Malo. Peloquin responded that a variety of spaces are being looked at when asked if there was a possibility of moving into the renovated arena.

RRVSD board chair Heather Poirer said a library space in the school was not needed with a reading consultant and teachers moving books and materials more into the classrooms themselves.

“It’s working for the kids… Instead of it being a separate place, the books are right there. I feel that it’s been beneficial,” said Poirier.

“Absolutely nothing against libraries. It’s not about not liking the library, it’s not about thinking that their presentation wasn’t good. Everything was good, everything was fine, but … at the end of the day the daycare and the preschool just felt like a better fit.”

Poirer said the St Pierre library attached to the French immersion school in St Pierre is leased on a year-to-year basis in case the space is needed by the school division. It has been there since 1967, but nearly closed two years ago.

“There’s space in the St Pierre school right now for all the kids and that library to continue,” said Poirier.

“But St Pierre is an expanding community so what does look like next year or the year after? I don’t know.”