Regina Public Library anticipating $340,000 in additional security costs in 2024 as violent incidents rise

The Regina Public Library (RPL) is anticipating $340,000 in additional security costs next year after a report saying violent incidents have become more common at branches around the city.

The City of Regina's executive committee discussed RPL's upcoming budget on Wednesday.

CUPE, the union representing RPL workers, released a report in March saying public library workers have faced an increase violent incidents while on the job.

The report says a majority of workers surveyed said they have experienced or witnessed violence in their workplace. RPL's flagship downtown branch was temporarily closed in June after a stabbing.

RPL is required by legislation to provide the executive committee with a presentation outlining their budget request for the coming year.

RPL has absorbed $210,000 of the additional security costs within its current budget, according to a City of Regina agenda packet for Wednesday's executive committee meeting.

It is looking to increase library taxes in 2024 by about 0.49 per cent more than what had initially been proposed last year as part of the multi-year budget to make up the $130,000 difference. That increase is part of a larger total 2.27 per cent library tax increase RPL is requesting for its total budget in 2024.

Security costs include the employment of two outreach workers as well as "traditional" security. RPL director and CEO Jeff Barber said that outreach workers work with individuals who have very specific needs for information about services around the city.

RPL has already worked with outreach workers for a five-month pilot through Family Service Regina. Barber said it has been a successful trial run.

"We are able to have these very well trained outreach workers working with us, helping deal with some kinds of situations that don't necessarily require police … but they might require more than a typical library worker," said Barber.

"So they have been able to to help some of our customers in a way that means that we don't have to call RPS."

Barber said that during the five-month pilot period, library calls to police went down by a third. 

Meanwhile, Mayor Sandra Masters said downtown security concerns are bigger than the library.

"The Downtown Business Improvement District is also included in this as is the City of Regina, the RPS and fire and our community safety patrol. And so I think what you'll see over the next number of months is a bit of a response to that," said Masters.

She said many downtown businesses have been investing hundreds of thousands of dollars into their own security. She said that the ways in which the city has already invested, such as increased police presence downtown, can help alleviate some security concerns in that area.

"I think it's part of a a broader discussion in terms of how to address some of those rising street crime numbers."

The submission by the RPL board was unanimously filed and received and will be reviewed again during budget 2024 deliberations at Regina city council's meeting on Dec. 13.

Looking for temporary downtown branch

RPL is also looking to temporarily relocate its downtown branch.

Just to bring the current building up to code would cost approximately $50 million, RPL said last year. That price tag that would not include any improvements or changes to the space.

As a result, RPL has said a better option is to tear down the existing structure and build an entirely new facility, with a cost of approximately $125 million.

No site has been selected for the potential temporary library.

RPL says it will be working with its architect in 2024 to design the temporary space. RPL says contractor and landlord work will be done in the first and second quarters of next year, with a move-in date slated for fall of 2024.