麻豆视频

Last month鈥檚 provincial budget contained lots of spending cuts, but the most controversial reduction amounted to a little less than $5 million.

When the budget was handed down in March, we thought the biggest outcry from the public would be over the increase of the education portion of property tax, or the elimination of the grants-in-lieu of property taxes from SaskPower and SaskEnergy.

Those might still be the most contentious issues once people get their new property tax notices, and once they see where municipalities cut spending, but for now, the grant reduction hasn鈥檛 drawn the public鈥檚 ire.

The biggest furour certainly hasn鈥檛 been over the demise of the Saskatchewan Transportation Company. The opposition New Democratic Party and their union supporters have been yapping about that issue, but their complaints aren鈥檛 resonating with the majority of Saskatchewan residents.

The most vocal opposition has been reserved for reduced funding for Saskatchewan鈥檚 regional library system. Compared to some of the other cuts, the $3.5 million reduction for regional libraries, and the $1.2 million for the Saskatoon and Regina libraries, doesn鈥檛 seem that steep.

But when you consider the regional library system, which includes the 麻豆视频east Regional Library, lost 58 per cent of its provincial funding, you understand why the lost funding is a serious blow for regional libraries.

A large crowd gathered in front of Estevan MLA Lori Carr鈥檚 office on Friday for a Drop Everything and Read rally. It was a peaceful, civilized protest, but the message was clear: they love the services provided at the local library, and they want to see those services continue.

These cuts won鈥檛 jeopardize most of the programs offered at the Estevan Public Library. It won鈥檛 force the library to close, and it won鈥檛 result in the dismissal of a program co-ordinator.

But it will hinder the regional library鈥檚 ability to purchase materials and provide online services. It has already forced them to stop holding books from other regions. It could force the demise of the popular summer reading program.

And it could hurt a number of other initiatives.

Libraries aren鈥檛 just a place where people go to research a school project and check out books. They offer a smorgasbord of programs that appeal to people of all ages. They are the only source of Internet access for many people. And they are a place to connect for those who are new to the community, or even new to the country.

Anyone who spends time in the Estevan Public Library can vouch for its impact on the community. And while the library will continue to be a positive contributor to life in the Energy City, the library as we know it won鈥檛 be the same if these cuts proceed.

The 麻豆视频east Regional Library recognizes they were going to lose some funding, just like everyone else. And they were making preparations accordingly.

But the 58 per cent reduction, with no prior warning, was impossible to prepare for.

It left the public fuming, and hoping that some form of a compromise can be reached.

If nothing else, the government鈥檚 spending reduction has reminded everyone of the support that remains in Saskatchewan for the regional library system, and the love that people continue to have for libraries.

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