Canada: Newfoundland and Labrador Public Library Closures Suspended Until Review Completed

From the CBC:

Newfoundland and Labrador’s education minister says he has requested a suspension of the decision to restructure the public library system.
Dale Kirby stated during a scrum with reporters Thursday that he was never comfortable with the decision, and says the it was made following consultations with Premier Dwight Ball and members of the Provincial Information and Library Resources Board.
He also acknowledged that the widespread opposition to the decision was a factor.
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This spring, the Liberals announced that more than half of the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries would close as part of cutbacks in the provincial budget. Most of those affected operated on a part-time basis.
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In the budget, government announced that 54 libraries would be closing as part of austerity measures, which has resulted in significant public outcry.
The government said in April it was moving to what it called a “regional library model,” with annualized savings of $1 million, including $300,000 this year.

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See Also: Budget Cuts Will Cause More than Half of Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries to Close in Next Two Years (April 27, 2016)

Filed under: Libraries, News, Public Libraries