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Two Saskatoon public libraries will temporarily close their doors to the public for more than three weeks from Saturday, citing staff safety concerns, the continuing homelessness crisis, and “a rapid worsening of our community’s opioid poisoning crisis,” according to a news release issued late Friday afternoon.
According to the statement from Saskatoon Public Libraries (SPL), the downtown Frances Morrison Library, and the Dr. Freda Ahenakew Library on Avenue K South will remain closed to the public until April 13. After that, the library will open only for holds and pickups.
Regular service should resume on April 21.
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So far in 2025, library staff have responded to at least 48 drug overdoses or poisonings at the two locations, nearly double the number during the same time in 2024.
“We have also seen a significant rise in challenging public behaviour and the escalation of violent patron behaviour, ” it read.
The closures come on the heels of Prairie Harm Reduction (PHR) also temporarily shutting its doors until March 31, citing staff stress, burnout, and trauma over the number of overdoses in the last several weeks.
Pamela Goulden-McLeod, Saskatoon’s Director of Emergency Services, said there’s no other alternative location for users to go if the safe consumption site is closed, and that’s going to have a significant impact on emergency services.
“We have reached out to the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC) and requested supports, and we’re working with them on that right now.”
While the services at PHR can’t be replaced in the short term, the Goulden-McLeod said they’re trying to figure out if and how they can mitigate what she called the “cascading impacts” from the facility’s temporary closure.
That likely means police, fire, and ambulance staff will need to adjust their responses or prepare for the impact as well.
“So, they’re all working on their own internal processes there, and then it’s looking at ‘is there a way we can provide additional supports to get that service (PHR) back up and running again,’ and that’s what we’re currently working with the province on,” she explained.
Goulden-McLeod said PHR is a critical service that’s needed with the surge in drug overdoses.
“Just like we would if there was a grass fire and we needed a water bomber to come in,” she said.
“This is a critical event in our community right now, and we need additional resources.”
The need for more help from the provincial government is also echoed in the statement from SPL.
“Public libraries are vital community resources, but they cannot fill the void left by the deterioration and lack of critical social and health services. We rely on healthcare and social service professionals, as well as first responders, to effectively support individuals in crisis.”
According to Carol Shepstone, Director of Libraries and CEO at SPL, while the decision made to close the two locations is painful, it’s necessary.
“We cannot serve as a refuge for people with nowhere else to go, who need support with addictions and who are experiencing medical emergencies.”
The plan during the closure is to re-focus library services, enhance safety measures, and to do some more staff training and wellness support.
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