‘Cannot act as a shelter:’ Saskatoon libraries limit hours for safety

The reduction of hours at four Saskatoon Public Library locations was done to keep staff members and patrons safe, the organization’s interim CEO said Friday.

Starting Monday, hours at the Frances Morrison Central Library, the Mayfair Library, the Dr. Freda Ahenakew Library, and the Carlyle King Library inside the Cosmo Civic Centre will be reduced to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Monday to Saturday. Sunday hours will remain unchanged, with the branches open from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m

Interim CEO Beth Cote said there has been an increase in incidents at those branches, including the facilities being used as places to sleep, store personal belongings, and use drugs and alcohol.

That follows an incident on Monday evening at the Carlyle King Library in Massey Place after a staff member and security guard allegedly were assaulted, Cote explained.

According to the Saskatoon police, two girls ages 14 and 16 are facing charges in connection to the alleged assault. They were believed to be intoxicated at the time.

Cote said violent situations involving employees are very rare but are taken seriously. She added that there has been an increase in people turning to the library for mental health, addictions and housing services.

“We are a public library. We cannot act as a shelter or provide the supports for things like health care,” she said.

The safe consumption site Prairie Harm Reduction is preparing to close early at 4 p.m. on May 1 due to a lack of funding.

“It becomes challenging to be welcoming to everybody when there are a lot of other services out there that aren’t available during certain hours” Cote said.

“Being the only place for people to go is just not something that the library can provide for people.”

Cote said the shift of hours is not intended to be permanent, and evening hours will resume when it’s safe and secure for employees and patrons again.

Although some library locations are located inside leisure centres within Saskatoon, a statement from the city said there isn’t any plan to alter the evening hours for any leisure centres. The city’s public libraries are governed by a board of trustees independent from city administration.

“We are also aware that incidents happen from time to time at City facilities. That’s why we have in place a proactive and wide-ranging safety plan that includes security measures, systems and supports for anyone who works at or visits our Leisure Centres,” Jody Hauta, the city’s recreation facilities and programs manager, said in a statement.

“Evening access to public washrooms will continue to be available at these leisure facilities and at various parks across the city.”