Library closures will hit children, rural areas hardest, says association

Two officials with the Newfoundland and Labrador Libraries Association say closing half the public libraries in the province will have negative consequences, despite government reassurancesto the contrary.

• More than half of N.L. libraries closing in wake of budget cuts
• Opposition words come back to haunt new Liberal government

In aninterview Thursday with the St. John's Morning Show,NLLA President Amanda Tiller-Hackett and Vice-President Krista Godfreysaid while they expected some cuts to the library network, they didn't think it would be as bad as it was.

"I [wasn't]surprised that there were closures, but I was surprised at how many there were," said Tiller-Hackett.

"Fifty-fourlibraries will be cut, 64 positions, so we're thinking they must be in small areas,rural areaslibraries with one or two staff members."

The locations of the closures have not yet been revealed.

On Wednesday, the province's library board reassured the public that despite the mass closures,85 per cent of users would still be within a 30-minute drive of a public library.

According to association, even a 30-minute commuteis not reasonable for many people whodepend onpublic libraries.

"Driving a half an hour is quite a [long] way. We've got new gas taxes on top of that, we've got auto insurance," saidGodfrey.

"Whether or not a mother with a five-year-old is going to drive 30 minutes to take their daughter to the children's storytime, I'm not sure if that's actually going to happen. We're definitely going to see a reduction in programs. What happens to the other 15 per cent?"

Librariesneeded more than ever

Tiller-Hackettsaid that in light of other aspects of the provincial budget, people need services at their local library more than when the economic outlook was brighter.

"In the current financial crunch, people are going to less able to afford internet from home anddevices they need to read e-books," she said.

"I think libraries are going to be more essential now than ever."