Cindy MacDougall
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Feb 09/00) - A small group of Yellowknife book lovers have started an e-mail campaign against recent cuts to the library.

The group has posted notices around the city asking residents to e-mail the mayor and city councillors in protest of the cuts.

The city's 2000 budget eliminated library hours on Wednesday and Friday evenings, as well as Saturday mornings. Library hours have been cut from 62 hours a week in 1999 to 55 hours a week in 2000.

"The reason is just to make sure they understand how extensively the library is used," said Masood Hassan, the spokesperson for the group.

"Whenever you go into the library, there are a lot of young people there," he said. "There's all this emphasis on literacy on the one hand, but on the other, library hours are being cut. It does not seem compatible."

The cut in hours allowed the city to lay off eight of the library's casual workers effective Jan. 1, resulting in a $41,000 saving to the city this year. The amendment to the budget passed council 5-3 in December.

Hassan said he was planning to speak at the Feb. 14 city council meeting, but had to reschedule due to a personal matter.

"I will be at the next meeting, though. I will make a case that cutting library service is not the thing to do," he said.

Mayor David Lovell said people should speak out when a council decision concerns them.

"People care about services, too, not just cutting taxes," he said. "I think people will always complain about taxes, but most of those complaints are related to a lack of services."

Coun. Robert Slaven said he "reluctantly supported" the cut, but will be all ears when Hassan speaks to council.

"I felt it was important to cut the budget so there would be room to roll back this summer's tax increase," he said. "But I'm really glad to hear people stand up on an issue and say no, this is unacceptable."

Kevin O'Reilly, who voted against the cut, said he was disappointed the city cut the service in the first place.

"I used to take my kids to the library on a Saturday morning, and now I and other parents can't do that anymore," he said.

"I hope these people bring their views forward on this."

Paby Chetty, a regular library user, said the cuts to staff have affected the serenity of the library.

"I find the staff is running in every direction trying to help people at the counter and reshelving books," he said. "They appear to be under a lot of pressure."

Lovell said council can reverse any decision it makes if there is the will to do so.

"Council can always do anything at any time," he said. "So if someone came to us and said 'We want our library,' then council could do something."

Head librarian Eileen Murdoch said staff could not comment on the situation.

Council meets next on Monday, Feb. 14. Hassan will make his presentation at the Feb. 28 meeting.