Residents voice concerns over Valleyview library's future

Residents in Valleyview, a small town in Northern Alberta, gathered at a town hall meeting to discuss the future of their public library. The town council plans to relocate the library to a new K-12 school building, which has raised concerns in the community. This meeting marked the first time supporters of the library were able to address the mayor and council members directly about the controversial decision. Many locals are upset over the council's decision to cut library funding by $60,000 last December, almost half of the total allocation. The library's future has increasingly become a topic of heated debate, especially after the RCMP were called during a tense library board meeting last month. Residents felt their voices were not being heard, as decisions appeared to be made behind closed doors. The mayor, Vern Lymburner, reassured attendees that the library is not closing. He emphasized that relocating it to a new facility could provide a better service for the community. However, the new library would be smaller, sparking concerns about its ability to support local programs, especially for marginalized groups. The current library is a safe space for many, including the local Gay Straight Alliance, which has raised fears about how supportive the new environment will be. Residents voiced their worry that the library's relocation to a school might limit its openness to different expressions, particularly for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. Council member Danny McCallum claimed that they do not intend to restrict access to the GSA or to cut essential programs. He insisted that the new library will remain independent from the school, run by its library board rather than school teachers. Mayor Lymburner stated that moving the library is a financial decision aimed at cutting costs, as the current building is aging and expensive to maintain. He acknowledged uncertainties about the exact savings but mentioned that the school board might take over some financial responsibilities. Residents expressed frustration about the lack of transparency from the council. Until recently, much of the council's work was done privately, and communication with the public was limited. Following this town hall, the municipal website was updated to provide better access to council members. Many attendees called for more opportunities for public engagement in future decisions.