Thank you to everyone who attended the 2022 Saskatchewan Libraries Conference, whether as a delegate, presenter, or exhibitor! More than 140 delegates joined us in Regina from May 4-6 for the first in-person conference SLA has hosted since COVID-19.

Delegates took in a wide variety of sessions, which ranged from learning how to introduce a Dungeons & Dragons program in your library to studying Saskatchewan's cataloguing landscape to receiving naloxone training from a St. John Ambulance instructor.

A few of our presenters have shared their slideshows, and these are now posted on the SLA conference webpage. Click here to view those presentations.

And don't forget to mark your calendars for next year's conference, which is set for May 3-5, 2023! The location will be announced at a later date.

Regional Park Pass Lending Program Launches

Starting June 1, people with a Saskatchewan library card can borrow a free regional park pass, giving them access to any of the province's many regional parks for a period of one week.

SLA announced this exciting new pilot program at its conference, together with the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association (SPRA), the Saskatchewan Regional Parks Association (SRPA), and the Government of Saskatchewan.

A total of 800 regional park passes are being distributed to libraries across the province as part of this pilot program. Participating library systems are: Palliser Regional Library, Pahkisimon Nuyeʔáh Library System, Southeast Regional Library, Wheatland Regional Library, Saskatoon Public Library, Regina Public Library, and the University of Regina. Each system is determining how its allotted passes are distributed among its branches.

Welcome to Our New SLA Board Members!

SLA is welcoming three new members to its Board of Directors this year:

Michele Fedyk is joining as Treasurer.

Michele comes to SLA with more than 30 years of public library experience, having worked in a variety of urban and rural settings across Saskatchewan and Alberta. She currently works as a branch manager with Regina Public Library.

Morgan Kelly is joining as Vice President of Advocacy and Development.

Morgan has been working in libraries since 2014 and currently serves as the Community Services Manager at Southeast Regional Library.

Riane Lapaire is joining as Vice President of Engagement and Communications.

Riane has been working in libraries since 2008, and she currently works as the Braille & Accessibility Testing Coordinator with the National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS).

Thank you so much to our outgoing board members: Darrell Yates, Elaina St. Onge, and Tasha Maddison. Your months and years of hard work and dedication to SLA are deeply appreciated!

SLA Program News

2022 SLA Children’s Summer Performer Tours

SLA has received a very generous grant from SaskTel for the 2022 Children’s Summer Performer Tours. We will be offering grants of up to $300 for member libraries to hire performers or storytellers to create children’s summer programming. The deadline to apply for the grant is June 6, so don’t delay!

SLA will also be producing new children’s performer videos to be used by libraries for summer 2022 – a great option for libraries who want to offer virtual programming. These videos will be posted to the SLA website as they become available. The 2021 summer performer videos are also still available on the SLA website and are free for public use.

Grant money may be used for in-person or virtual programming. Successful grant recipients may use funds to hire entertainers, purchase supplies, publicize the event, or buy prizes or treats.

Applications must be received by June 6, 2022 to be considered. Click here for more information and to access a grant application!

SLA Seeking New Committee Members

SLA’s significant work is completed with input and guidance from our many committees. Thank you to all 2021-2022 committee members for your contribution and a special thank you to those who have expressed an interest in committee work again in this coming year!

We are inviting all SLA members to consider serving on SLA committees. Our committees include: Communications and Engagement, Advocacy and Development, Continuing Education, SLA Programs, One Book One Province, Prison Library, and Conference Planning. Click here for descriptions of each committee.

To express your interest in joining a committee, email Dorothea Warren at [email protected]. If you have any questions or would like additional information, call the SLA office at 306-780-9413 or email slaadmin@sasktel.net. 

Thank you for supporting SLA and contributing to its work!

SLA Takes on SLTA Documents

The Saskatchewan Library Trustees' Association (SLTA) recently dissolved after serving Saskatchewan's library community for more than 50 years. The organization has entrusted to SLA a number of the documents and resources it has developed over the years to benefit the province's library trustees.

These resources are now publicly available on SLA's website in the hopes they will continue benefiting the library community for years to come. Click here to view the documents.

Greetings!

It is hard to believe it is already June. May was a busy time for SLA, but it has been a good month. It was such a pleasure getting to connect with SLA members at the conference at the beginning of May! I know that we were nervous about going “live” and in person, but it all went very well. I would like to thank the Conference Planning Committee, the volunteers, the Board and the office staff – Dorothea, Lynn and Leslie – for all the hard work that went into making the conference the success that it was.

It is also that time of year when we wrap up the year’s work. Most committees will be taking a break for the summer, while others will continue their work through the next few months. I am amazed at the amount of work that has been undertaken and completed over the last year. I hope you will consider putting your name forward to serve on a committee.

Click here to read more.

Saskatchewan Library Association

10-2010 7th Ave.

Regina, SK S4R 1C2

Phone: 306-780-9413

Fax: 306-780-3633

Email:  [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

Web: saskla.ca

SLA reserves the right to change or edit any submission or to refuse publication in its entirety. The deadline for SLAte submissions is the 25th of each month.

The Saskatchewan Library Association gratefully acknowledges the support

of our funding agencies.