Northern Alberta residents pack small town meeting over library’s future [Video]

For the first time, supporters of the Valleyview library have heard directly from the town’s mayor and council about a contentious move to eventually close the existing facility and relocate it in a yet-to-be-built K-12 school. 

The library’s funding and future have become a source of tension in the community, located about 350 kilometres northwest of Edmonton. 

The town hall meeting was called after weeks of criticism of the town council and a few heated library board meetings, including one last month that culminated in the RCMP being called during the public engagement portion. One of the board members resigned days after.

It followed an investigation by CBC’s The Fifth Estate that found the town’s decisions to close and move the library were conducted behind closed doors, with Valleyview residents unable to have their voices heard. Town officials declined to speak to The Fifth Estate for that story. 

The March 10 meeting was the first opportunity supporters of the …