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Shocking is the only word to describe the brutal rape and murder last week of a librarian in Ottawa, with Saskatchewan connections. Before one dismisses this as another “big city story,” then you probably haven’t been in the basement of the Frances Morrison branch recently.

I am an unapologetic fan of libraries. In addition to feeding a love of reading, these days, libraries provide far more than books. Weekly story times, teen homework groups, computer classes for seniors and the like transform libraries into community centres with something to offer to everyone. All programming is free, ensuring accessibility for all.

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During the past year, I have volunteered time with a free legal clinic. The clinic is held in various locations around Saskatoon, usually in libraries. The evenings that I have volunteered have typically been at the Frances Morrison branch.

You can imagine the surprise when I arrived in the basement of Frances Morrison, only to find a number of people unabashedly using drugs down there. This went on for an entire evening. Further, in the women’s washroom, a man and a woman were bathing a baby in the sink, doing laundry and making bottles.