The Portage la Prairie Regional Library's looking for a little extra support from the provincial government.

"We've received information from the provincial government that the Minister of Sport, Culture, and Heritage Rochelle Squires, who is in charge of public libraries in the province, has been working on assessing what is good about what's going on with libraries, and what needs to happen to improve them," says Board Chair Evelyn Braun.

She can't say what kind of changes will be happening here in Portage, but they are in the process of filling out forms that will help identify the needs of the library.

"That's up to Public Library Services, and the provincial government as to what they are willing, and able, to do," says Braun. "Some of the things we're suggesting would be areas they need to look at. Many of the things that are coming are up are very valuable, and very necessary, but it's difficult for us to do it without some additional funding being provided. Things like workplace safety and health standards and accessibility issues."

A lot of times people hear accessibility and think wheelchairs and walkers, but it's also things for the visually impaired, and the hearing impaired. "We also have a great need for archives for the City and RM of Portage," adds Braun. "For that, we need temperature controlled rooms and appropriate shelving, those sort of things. That is very costly but very important to maintain the history of our area."

A Provincial Library Assessment hasn't been done for many years according to Braun. She says the grant which they receive from the province hasn't been increased in 10-15 years and it's time they get an increase.