Council holds off on proposed St Malo library locations

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This article was published 27/07/2024 (344 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

De Salaberry council decided to wait until the Jolys Library board discussed the future of the RM’s partnership with the Village of St Pierre before it approves a new home for a library branch in St Malo.

The RM was presented two potential options by CAO Denise Parent at its July 23 meeting. One location was at the current 667-sq-ft post office, which Parent’s report to council read is rumoured to become vacant in the next year. The other was an 1,100-sq-ft space at the Beach House building near St Malo School.

Parent described it as a short-term solution. But members of council were concerned about the cost and what the future of the regional library itself was.

The St Malo location in the school was closed to make room for kindergarten daycare space. The only regional library location left is in St Pierre at its school, and Red River Valley School Division is limiting its hours to evenings and weekends when class is not in session starting this September.

Parent said during the Tuesday council meeting that looking into it further, approval of a St Malo library branch would likely need library board approval anyway. The board is made up of Chair and St Pierre citizen representative Paule Péloquin, Vice Chair & RM of De Salaberry council representative St Malo ward Coun. Charlene Geiler, librarian Nicole Gregoire who has been on leave, St Pierre Coun. Suzanne Jolicoeur, and De Salaberry citizen representative Caycie Dueck.

De Salaberry Coun. Louis Courcelles pointed out funding from the Province is affected by a library being regional, which is why libraries prefer to be regional instead of run by one municipality.

“Do we want to just say screw all the funding, we’ll just pay and raise our taxes? Because we’re always concerned about our taxes and how much we have to raise them for everything else we spend on. This is the same thing. We need a partner.

“I’m curious how the library board – I know the Village tried to find another partner. I’m not sure what the motivation behind that was, we didn’t discuss it. I can make assumptions, I guess,” said Courcelles.

St Malo ward Coun. Gary Tétrault agreed things were “lukewarm” with their Village of St Pierre partner, but did not think De Salaberry needed to rush into signing a lease for a St Malo branch.

“Yes, it’s been talked about in the community for a while, but it’s not one of those pitchforks are out or they’re knocking on our doors. To do this right, I think we’ve got time,” said Tétrault.

Geiler said the library board’s next meeting is in August.