2 weeks Ago By Celia Rodd, Cindy Elliott, Lisa Forbes, Harriet Zaidman, and Kirsten Wurmann
Two and a half years ago, Community Connections was opened as a low-barrier resource centre, providing an extension of library services in the lobby of the Millennium Library. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * Two and a half years ago, Community Connections was opened as a low-barrier resource centre, providing an extension of library services in the lobby of the Millennium Library. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Opinion Two and a half years ago, Community Connections was opened as a low-barrier resource centre, providing an extension of library services in the lobby of the Millennium Library.
As libraries do, Millennium evolved its community service role to provide information and engage citizens in a way that is culturally safe and accessible to all of its patrons. After consulting with the community, it adopted a hub model, much like other Canadian and U.S.
cities. It provides information and assistance in navigating community services in the one public venue people can enter without spending money — the library. This oasis co-ordinates intermittent drop-in sessions for over 30 community providers in a space with librarians, library service assistants, community crisis workers and community safety hosts — to provide the individualized supports needed by these library users, who may be new to the city or experiencing other challenges.
It is a welcome centre that helps people directly access services like resumé writing, tax filing, access to identification, legal help, job searches, social supports and more. More than half of patrons are there for assistance with basic technologies, such as computers, fax and printers. The cost to the City of Winnipeg per visit is about the same as the operating cost of one swimmer at a public swimming pool, however the city has only provided operating funds for Community Connections for 2024.
While some of our citizens need recreation opportunities, others need access to information, often through different portals at the public library. And it’s not like decision makers don’t agree. City councillors, administrators and provincial ministers acknowledge this service is needed.
Nevertheless, there are yet no dedicated funds to continue the vital work of Community Connections beyond this year, even though the city recognizes it as a critical part of its poverty reduction strategy. At the opening of Community Connections in April 2022, Coun. Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) stated that “the Community Connections space opening at Millennium Library is a significant milestone, and the result of collaboration with Indigenous community leadership and community organizations .
.. this is meant to be a space of community care built for and by the community.
” Community members from across Winnipeg have advocated for Community Connections with various city councillors and provincial ministers, and as of today, there is no commitment for continued funding after Dec. 31, 2024. The reply has typically been that Community Connections is an important service to Winnipeggers, but the funding does not fall within “our jurisdiction,” meaning that it is not within the purview of the municipality nor any of the provincial ministries, including housing, addictions and homelessness or culture, heritage, tourism and sport (which includes public libraries in its mandate).
Our conversations feel like everyone is passing the buck in that no one wants to continue funding this important service. Typically, 100 individuals use Community Connections on a daily basis, attesting to the need for such services. Its patrons include newcomers from other countries and Indigenous communities, those without access to basic technologies or computer literacy, those more vulnerable, from lower income strata, or at risk of homelessness.
These users need a bit more attention than library staff inside the Millennium Library can typically provide, but is that not part of the City’s mandate to ensure that all who need library services receive them? Do these citizens not deserve access to the kinds of resources that libraries across Canada provide on a daily basis? Celia Rodd, Cindy Elliott, Lisa Forbes, Harriet Zaidman and Kirsten Wurmann are Winnipeg library volunteers. Advertisement.
