SASKATOON – Rural libraries will no longer be “second class citizens” to their urban cousins when it comes to getting information, said a Weyburn librarian.
A $1.5 million project to electronically connect libraries to the Internet, also known as cyberspace, will allow a student in Weyburn access to any library in the province.
“It’s just wonderful,” said Marlene Yurkowski, head librarian at the Weyburn Public Library, a branch of the Southeast Regional Library.
Rural libraries have often been limited by space and money in the information they can keep at the library. Once libraries are connected electronically, a rural resident can have access to the province’s entire book, magazine and resource collection, said Yurkowski.
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It’s all part of the federal government’s infrastructure program. The Library Electronic Information System was announced during the annual conference of the Saskatchewan Libraries Association and the Saskatchewan Libraries Trustees’ Association in Saskatoon.
The federal government will provide $249,480, the province pays $569,520 and local library boards will contribute $700,000.
Cash for computers
Most of the money will be used for buying computers, connecting to SaskTel’s network service and training at local libraries.
“It’s a nice plus for folks in rural Saskatchewan,” said Maureen Woods, provincial librarian.
Woods estimates it will be at least two years before most of the 300 Saskatchewan branch libraries will be connected.
Eventually users will get Internet lessons at their local library.
“You’ll find a nice branch librarian saying this is how the Internet works,” said Woods, of Regina.
“Rural people will have access to much more information,” she said.
