Ste Anne library secures funding

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This article was published 21/04/2018 (2193 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Ste Anne library has staved off service reductions and possible closure by securing additional funds from the RM of Ste Anne and Town of Ste Anne.

After appeals to both councils last month, the Town of Ste Anne will maintain its $28,000 municipal operating grant for 2018 and 2019, despite initially considering a $6,000 decrease, said Councillor Wayne Setlack, who sits on the library board.

“It’s needed to keep the library running…at the hours that it’s running now,” he acknowledged.

Reeve Art Bergmann confirmed the RM of Ste Anne will increase its annual support to $15,000 from $10,000 for 2018 and 2019.

The old funding formula assumed fewer than 200 RM households used the library, but statistics show that number is now closer to 250, Bergmann explained.

He called the public library “a great asset” for residents of all ages.

Last month, closure seemed possible as the library faced an $8,000 budget shortfall, a figure representing 80 percent of the annual book budget.

Outgoing library board president Michelle Larocque, who drew attention to the library’s plight before stepping down last week after eight years of service, said she was pleased at the tangible support shown by the town and municipality.

Library funding was a “hot potato” complicated at times by poor communication, Larocque said.

“I think that now, everybody knows what their responsibilities are. Going forward, the library’s going to be in really good shape.”

Larocque thanked the public for supporting the library’s request with letters, phone calls, and presence at council meetings.

“A lot of people really rallied and stood behind their library, which is fantastic,” she said.