N.S. library board meets with partners, province, to keep branches open

A sign for a library is pictured. (Jonathan MacInnis/CTV News Atlantic)

As the closing date for certain library branches in Annapolis Valley nears, the board overseeing them is rallying to explore any remaining possibilities to keep their doors open.

The Annapolis Valley Regional Library (AVRL) board operates 11 branches, five of which are slated to close on July 20 due to a “significant funding shortfall.”

Branches in Kentville, Port Williams, Hantsport, Lawrencetown and Middleton are on the chopping block.

The announcement was made early in June, and the closures will eliminate nine full-time-equivalent positions. The board says employees have been offered transition support.

On Monday, the library board met with funding partner municipalities to review the situation.

It had asked all eight partner municipalities to increase funding contributions at a meeting in January, but without provincial funding increases the board says it won’t be enough to prevent reductions and closures.

The Nova Scotia government spends more than $16 million each year in support of libraries, according to the province.

In an open letter dated June 3, the Council of Regional Libraries (CORL) wrote to the minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage to request an increase to a core provincial operating grant of $12.78 million.

The AVRL held a meeting with provincial staff on Wednesday to explore the possibilities of keeping the branches open.

The board will hold an extra meeting next Monday at 6 p.m. at Wolfville Council Chambers.

“The meeting will discuss the possibility that the five branches scheduled for closure may be able to be kept open for an additional short time while discussions with the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage and municipalities continue,” reads a statement from the board.

The CORL points out libraries are used by many different Nova Scotians. Students find educational programming, seniors can find social opportunities and newcomers or low-income residents can access Wi-Fi and printers for essential tasks.

“Without meaningful provincial investment, other library regions may be forced to make similar decisions within the next one to three years,” the council writes to the minister. “The consequences of these reductions will extend far beyond library walls and will be felt throughout communities across Nova Scotia.”

With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Sean Mott and Jonathan MacInnis

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