LAFLECHE – The library in Lafleche is closed until further notice, according to a post on social media by the Town of Lafleche.
However, that “closed” sign might be flipped soon.
Earlier this year, Lafleche welcomed a new face - Francesca Martina - after the retirement of long-time librarian Gloria McIvor. With renewed enthusiasm for programming, it seemed as though the library was energized once again with Martina at the helm.
“Unfortunately, change is not often easily accommodated in some communities,” said Dawn Silver, Rural Branch Manager with Chinook Regional Library. “There was some friction over the change in programming, sad to say.”
The end result was Martina resigning from the position she was so capably handling for many months. Her last day at the Lafleche Public Library was June 27.
“We were lucky to have her for the short period of time that we did, she was a real asset,” Silver told .
Town of Lafleche CAO Brenda Clampitt explained that the action was “more of a suspension in services until a new librarian is found.”
The Town owns and maintains the physical building along Main Street, and has a member of Council serving on the library board.
“She was employed by Chinook and submitted her resignation to Chinook,” Clampitt said. “The operation of the library has nothing to do with the Town.”
While the service disruption has made for some temporary inconveniences for those who frequent the library, Silver is confident things will be back on track very soon.
“We’ve interviewed two people, I’m going to do another interview this week, so we should have somebody hired next week,” she explained.
Under provincial requirements, rural libraries are allotted a certain number of hours for service, and Silver noted that those hours missed during the closure will be accounted for.
“It’ll be open a few more hours over the next few weeks just to cover what we didn’t get covered this week and a bit last week,” she said.
“It’ll be back in action, and we’re taking care of people’s holds from headquarters,” Silver said, stressing the importance of library services in rural communities. “If anybody needs any help, they can call here.”
For the time being, library items can be returned to Chinook branches in Gravelbourg and Kincaid..
