Hazlet Rallies to Keep Library Hours
- Gull Lake Events
- 18 hours ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 4 hours ago
The Village of Hazlet is fighting to protect one of its most valued community spaces: the local library.
The Chinook Regional Library has announced a reduction of 3.5 hours per week at the Hazlet branch, cutting service from 9.5 hours down to just 6. For a village of fewer than 100 residents, that’s a significant loss—"barely enough time to check books in and out," as the Village noted in a recent update.
There is, however, an option to keep the hours intact. Hazlet can “buy back” the lost time for $4,375.49, which would preserve the librarian’s hours and maintain current services. The decision must be confirmed by December 31, 2025, with payment due by January 31, 2026.
The numbers show just how much this little library matters:
4,885 books in the collection
1,215 physical items borrowed last year
933 eBooks and audiobooks borrowed online
$40,000 in estimated savings for residents by borrowing instead of buying—about $446 per person
For a branch serving just 90 people, the impact is outsized.
To meet the funding challenge, Hazlet is organizing a Meat Raffle Fundraiser:
🎟️ Tickets are $10 each
🥩 Prize pack valued at over $300, including NY strip steaks, ground beef, chicken breasts, brisket, sausage, and eggs
📍 Tickets available at the library, the craft sale, and around town
🗓️ Draw date: December 18 at 3 PM at the Hazlet Library
Every dollar raised will go toward keeping the library’s hours—and its role as a gathering place, resource hub, and cultural anchor—alive and well.
A small library making a big impact,” the Village wrote.
Residents and supporters are encouraged to buy tickets, donate, and help ensure Hazlet’s library continues to serve the community at full strength.
Gull Lake Events
Source: Hazlet, Saskatchewan
💡 This is just one of the many stories shaping life in Gull Lake.
👉 Explore more news, events, and community highlights on the Gull Lake Events Homepage.