The Palliser Regional Library Faces Asbestos Challenge: Major Upgrades Required

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News Summary

The Palliser Regional Library in Moose Jaw discovers asbestos during assessment, leading to costly upgrades and safety measures.

The Palliser Regional Library Faces Asbestos Challenge: Major Upgrades Required

The Palliser Regional Library’s Moose Jaw headquarters, located at 366 Coteau Street West, is entering a new phase of scrutiny and necessary upgrades due to the distressing discovery of asbestos during a recent professional assessment. This evaluation, completed in 2024, highlighted the presence of asbestos-containing materials that pose potential risks if disturbed, emphasizing the need for thorough planning and transparency regarding future renovations.

Costly Assessment Sparks Immediate Need for Action

Following new provincial financial reporting requirements, the library undertook a comprehensive evaluation, which unveiled the daunting estimation of $293,706 to remove all identified asbestos from the building. The assessment revealed that asbestos was present in floor tiles throughout the facility, alongside some insulation materials tucked away in the attic.

As the library’s treasurer explained, while immediate action on the asbestos issue is not being planned, the substantial cost must be incorporated into their financial statements moving forward. This decision reflects a commitment to uphold transparency to stakeholders and potential buyers. Notably, since the library has no current intentions of selling the building, it is crucial for them to illustrate their financial obligations relating to the asbestos issue.

Initial Remediation Efforts Begin

To tackle the problem at hand, the library implemented initial remediation efforts costing around $16,714 in 2024, funded from its operating reserves. These initial efforts, aimed at ensuring the safety of both staff and patrons, included significant cleaning of furnace ducts, replacing eavestroughs, and the careful removal of asbestos floor tiles from the basement washroom—an operation that required the skills of a certified specialist.

The proactive approach underscores the library board’s strong commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy environment within its facilities. While the presence of asbestos does exist, it is important to note that these materials do not present an immediate danger unless disturbed. Thus, the library headquarters remains fully operational and safe for public use, with no current need to evacuate or change usage protocols.

Financial Accountability and Future Directions

In their strategic planning, the library appointed liabilities related to the asbestos removal to better reflect the building’s financial health. With each future remediation effort, the liability recorded will adjust accordingly; ideally, when complete remediation is achieved, the liability will drop to zero, concurrently increasing the asset’s value.

This strategic financial management was reviewed during the library’s recent 2025 annual general meeting, which was held on May 3, 2025. During this meeting, operations, achievements, and financial realities from 2024 were discussed. Interestingly, despite the challenges regarding asbestos, the library network has flourished, delivering nearly 3,000 programs with an impressive attendance of around 27,000 individuals, reflecting a return to pre-COVID participation levels.

Standout programs included a refreshing summer reading club, an extraordinary visit by astronaut Colonel Jeremy Hansen, and various community workshops that catered to the diverse interests of patrons. However, the library did report a moderate loss of $37,215 for 2024, a figure seen as anticipated and offset by reserves for planned upgrades and long-term projects.

As library officials look ahead, one area of focus includes working further to modernize technology access in rural library branches with an allocation of $49,652 from the Evergreen reserve. Overall reserves of $19,631 have been maintained across the library branches, ensuring stability in upcoming projects and technological advancements.

Upcoming Meetings and Strategic Initiatives

As the library continues to navigate through the complexities of asbestos removal while maintaining robust programming, the next general meeting is scheduled for November 8, during which discussions will focus on the 2026 budget and associated levies. This will be an important forum for patrons and stakeholders to engage in the library’s future directions and ongoing projects.

For more updates and detailed information regarding the Palliser Regional Library and its operations, interested parties can visit their official site at PalliserLibrary.ca.