WHEREAS public libraries have been central to communities for hundreds of years, creating a safe space for children and adults to read and learn, regardless of their socio-economic status or backgrounds.

WHEREAS public libraries can be counted on to provide the resources to answer many important questions; provide access to countless materials and content, especially for those who cannot afford to purchase them privately; and an internet connection to allow access to information, banking and financial services, communications, employment opportunities, as well as accessing and submitting government forms.

WHEREAS public libraries do much more than simply house books, including community programming such as the Saskatchewan Information and Library Services Consortium (SILS), preschool programs, reading programs, book clubs, story times, summer reading programs, and seniors’ programs to only name a few.

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the provincial government to fund the public library system to keep pace with inflation as well as current trends and technologies at the least, in addition to ensuring that both large and small community libraries can meet the programming, educational, and communal needs that are an integral part of library programming and its services.