The proposal to change the Swift Current Branch Library into a municipally run organization has generated a wide array of opinions.
If the change were to occur, the Chinook Regional Library would no longer operate with Swift Current Branch Library as its central unit.
At this time, the Branch Library and the Chinook Headquarters in Swift Current serve over 40,000sq kilometres of small and rural communities and their local libraries.
This would mean that projects taking place in Swift Current, which are funded by the city, would no longer expand into rural southwest communities through the Chinook system.
In a non-scientific poll, we asked our readers to tell us about their thoughts on the proposal for the library, with many individuals voicing the same concerns.
One respondent, Dan Knutson, said that he can see valid points on both sides of the argument, but feels as though he has been left with a lot of unanswered questions.
“I don't have enough information,” he explained. “I don't know why City Council wants to make that change. I need more information.”
Another respondent, Roxana Tiefenbach, said that she does not believe the change would have a positive impact on Swift Current or on surrounding communities.
“Overall, the idea is that as a group, we're better off than when each person does their own thing,” she elaborated.
Tiefenbach, who resides in Leader, added that she also feels as though she is lacking information that would be essential in helping make the decision.
“It's not the resource of the Swift Current Library in and of itself,” she explained. “It's what it does to the rest of the region so you know by them pulling out. Does that mean that there are less hours available for us? Does it mean that there is no staff or staff with only half-time hours?”
Another common topic of concern is that of the books located inside the library.
The books in the Swift Current Library are owned by the Chinook Regional Library and are typically shared throughout the division.
Should the Swift Current Branch Library be changed to a municipally run organization?
Of the 168 responses that we received for our first question in the survey:
- No represented 126 votes (75%)
- Yes represented 28 votes (16.7%)
- There were 14 votes representing I don’t know (8.3%)
Are you a resident of Swift Current?
Of the respondents, 113 (67.3%) said they reside within Swift Current, while 55 respondents (32.7%) said they reside outside of city limits.
If no, where do you reside?
We received 59 responses to our third question, which allowed individuals outside of Swift Current city limits to tell us where they reside.
- From 55 comments, we learned:
- Nine respondents said they live outside city limits or on a farm
- Three people said they reside in Cabri
- Two respondents said they reside in Eastend
- Three people reside in Herbert
- Nine individuals said they live in Leader
- Three respondents said they reside in Val Marie
- Two said they reside in Maple Creek
- Two respondents said they live in Shaunavon
- 21 said that they reside in a different rural community
- One was a former resident of Swift Current
The results from the survey were gathered on November 29, at approximately 2:00 p.m.