By Roger White

Huge turnout for drop everything and read

Apr 7, 2017 | 5:00 PM

Over 150 people waved signs and brought their favourite book to read as the community gathered in front of Battleford MLA Herb Cox’s office on Friday afternoon.

The event was part of the Drop Everything and Read rally to protest the recent budget cuts to regional library boards in the province.

“I am overwhelmed by the show of support,” Lakeland Library director Eleanor Crumblehulme told the crowd who attended the event. “What makes this more gratifying is that some of you I don’t know, but I am thankful you are here.”

Minister of Finance Kevin Doherty’s March 22 budget slashed library funding by 58 per cent which will result in a reduction in services and job losses throughout the province. The Lakelands Library recently trimmed two full-time positions and made them part-time.

Founder of the citizens group Save Saskatchewan’s Libraries Christine Freethy joined the protest and told those on hand the government is hearing their voice.

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“The government had no idea the backlash would be this huge,” Freethy said. “There has been so much misinformation spewed out by the government that is just not true and what’s really disturbing [is] where they are getting their figures.”

Last week the education minister Don Morgan asked why layoffs seemed to be the only answer to library management as a way to save money and why other options were not explored.

“It is terrifying to me as a citizen of Saskatchewan that the Minister of Education seems so poorly informed about how the programs he administers function,” Freethy said. “He expects us to continue offering services with no funding. Does he think fairies are going to do the work?”

Freethy said that 78 other Drop Everything and Read events were planned around the province on Friday.  

roger.white@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNow