Mini libraries bring big smiles to Saskatchewan schools

In late November, Grade 3 students at St. Catherine School in Regina received a surprise that will shape their learning for years to come — a new mini classroom library.

The excitement was immediate as students eagerly explored the fresh collection of books, flipping through pages and sharing discoveries with friends. For Jeanna Kozan, a SaskEnergy employee who visited the school during the delivery, one moment in particular stood out.

“One of the children we met was very quiet and shy at first,” Jeanna says. “But as soon as he found a book that interested him, he grabbed it, sat down, and read the entire thing out loud from start to finish.”

St. Catherine was one of seven schools across Saskatchewan to receive a mini classroom library through SaskEnergy’s annual United Way campaign. For more than 20 years, SaskEnergy employees have come together to support United Way, and this year was no exception.  SaskEnergy's 2025 campaign raised $40,492.94 through employee contributions and fundraising events, with every dollar directed toward childhood education and literacy.

Over the past two years, all campaign funds have supported the purchase of books to build new mini classroom libraries and replenish existing ones. In 2024, more than $40,000 helped schools in Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Swift Current, Weyburn, Yorkton, and Regina give students access to new stories and learning opportunities.

Teachers select books tailored to their classrooms — by topic and reading level — so every child can find something that sparks their imagination.

“When the kids at St. Catherine saw covers featuring their favorite topics and characters, you could see their faces light up,” Jeanna says.

Research shows that children who aren’t reading at grade level by the end of the third grade are four times more likely to leave school early. That’s why SaskEnergy chose to focus its campaign on literacy and educational equity.

“We were fortunate enough to work with Joanne Ell from the United Way in Regina, and she shared something that really stuck with me. ‘From grades one through three, students learn to read; but from grade three onward, students read to learn,’” says Jeanna. “I’m proud that SaskEnergy chose the United Way’s mini classroom library program to support such a critical stage in children’s development.”