Provincial government, not libraries, should address addictions: SPL manager

Nearly two weeks after the closure of two Saskatoon Public Library branches, a senior manager said the government should be doing more to address addictions so libraries don’t need to fill in the gaps.

Since March 22, the Frances Morrison Central Library on 23rd Street East, and the Dr. Freda Ahenakew Library on 20th Street West have been closed to the public, with regular services expected to resume on April 21.

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“Public libraries are vital community resources, but they cannot fill the voice left by the deterioration and lack of critical social and health services,” Saskatoon Public Library stated in a release announcing the temporary closures.

The organization cited chronic staff safety concerns, along with an increasing number of medical emergencies and violent incidents, as the reasons behind the closures.

Lydia Moss, Saskatoon Public Library’s senior manager of inclusivity and community partnerships, said the decision to close the two branches was difficult, but staff and management needed to “re-calibrate” in order to support the community.

“The reality is that human lives are on the line. But we had to finally say at the library system that we’ve always stepped in to try and fill those gaps, and we’re saying now, if we continue to do this, there’s no accountability to the government to recognize that the need exists, ’cause we’re meeting that need, even though it’s not our responsibility or role,” Moss said during a public meeting held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on Tuesday evening.

Ian Williamson, a planner with the City of Saskatoon, Rev. Roberto DeSandoli, Shauna Nelson, DTNYXE’s executive director, Mel Malkin, a longtime downtown resident, and Lydia Moss, senior manager with Saskatoon Public Library, at a public meeting held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on Tuesday evening. (Lara Fominoff/650 CKOM)

“Unfortunately, a little bit is just pushing it back into the streets.”

Moss said library workers are dealing with threats of violence, overdoses, and mental health and addictions challenges on a regular basis.

“Our decision to close our doors just for the next month is to give the library a chance to really focus on training initiatives, re-working some of our processes so that we have better systems in place to respond,” she explained.

What exactly that looks like, hasn’t been completely worked out yet, but Moss said there will be more eyes and ears throughout the libraries when they reopen.

“Having more people on the public floor engaging and determining what the need is, and the services, and just responding more in the moment,” Moss said.

She said management is working as quickly as possible to have the plans completed and executed.