Saskatoon downtown, 20th Street library branches closing for a month due to overdose crisis

The Saskatoon Public Library (SPL) is closing two branches for a month, as the city's protracted overdose crisis is overwhelming staff and stretching resources, SPL says.

The downtown Frances Morrison Library and the Dr. Freda Ahenakew library on 20th Street West are closing March 22 and won't fully reopen until April 21, according to an SPL statement. The libraries will partially reopen April 14 for pickup of reserved items.

"We aim to create an inclusive environment for all residents of Saskatoon, [but] we cannot serve as a refuge for people with nowhere else to go, who need support with addictions and who are experiencing medical emergencies," SPL CEO Carol Shepstone said in the statement.

Library staff responded to "at least 48 overdoses or drug poisonings" so far this year, almost double the number from the same period in 2024, according to SPL.

"We have also seen a significant rise in challenging public behaviour and the escalation of violent patron behaviour," the statement said.

"Public libraries are vital community resources, but they cannot fill the void left by the deterioration and lack of critical social and health services."

Last year, similar issues led to reduced hours at four SPL branches, and staff went on strike over wages and safety issues. After getting a new contract, the Canadian Union for Public Employees (CUPE) 2669 said the deal addresses health and safety issues for employees, such as protections for staff working alone.

Exacerbating the current situation is this week's temporary closure of Prairie Harm Reduction's drop-in centre and supervised consumption site to give its staff time to recover from a heavy workload stemming from the overdose crisis.

The SPL said its staff can't provide "safe and effective" services in the face of an increase in homelessness and unprecedented spike overdose cases caused by a toxic drug supply in the city.

"Addressing the increasing number of medical emergencies and violent incidents in the library is beyond our capacity," according to the SPL statement.

"Our employees face the challenging task of referring people to community services that are often unavailable or overcapacity due to a lack of resources."