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Five small-town libraries are set to close their doors permanently this summer.
The Annapolis Valley Regional Library announced the changes Monday after months of sounding the alarm that their operations were on shaky financial footing.
As of July 20, branches in Hantsport, Kentville, Lawrencetown, Port Williams and Middleton will no longer be in operation.
Middleton Mayor Gail Smith said the branch in her town was well used and described the news as devastating.
“These libraries have meant a great deal to us, like in our town and I’m sure the rest of the towns and villages, so it’s a sad day, it’s a sad day in Nova Scotia,” she said.
Since last year, the regional library service has been urging the public to contact local and provincial politicians to advocate for the libraries.
Static funding
The provincial library funding formula has been static since 2020 and libraries have been asking for increases for several years, pointing to inflation and growing demand for library services.
The regional library said in a news release that it has now confirmed there will be no change to funding this year, precipitating the decision to close some branches.
The regional library has not responded to CBC’s request for an interview. It’s unclear how the closures will impact staff or the six remaining branches in Windsor, Wolfville, Berwick, Kingston, Bridgetown and Annapolis Royal.
All branches are closed June 1-14 “to complete the restructuring process and support staff through this transition,” the news release said.
Statement from library
“While the decision is deeply difficult, the long-term goal is to protect the Library’s ability to continue serving the regions by focusing resources on a sustainable library system that can support literacy, learning, digital access, and community connection into the future,” it said.
The regional library said it asked all eight of its partner municipalities for extra money this year and all eight agreed, but, “these municipal contributions alone are not enough to prevent significant service reductions and impacts across the region.”
Smith said Middleton made the budget commitment in the hopes it would help the local branch. She said she’s wondering now if the money will go to other branches or come back to the town.
“This branch meant so much to us throughout the years. It was named after one of our teachers,” she said, referring to namesake Rosa M. Harvey.
What the province is saying
Provincial funding for libraries comes from the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage. The department would not make Minister Dave Ritcey available for an interview.
A spokesperson said the department knows how much libraries matter to Nova Scotians.
“Protecting library funding in a difficult budget year was a deliberate choice by the government,” they said, alluding to this year’s $1.2-billion deficit budget.
The budget included more than $300 million in cuts to jobs and services, some of which was later walked back.
“Still, every public institution right now is being asked to do more with less — the Province included — and that means looking hard at how services are delivered, not only how much they cost,” the spokesperson said.
“We’re committed to continuing that conversation with our regional library systems.”
They said the province gave regional libraries bridge funding of $800,000 last August, and said the Council of Regional Librarians’ has not made a request for bridge funding this fiscal year.
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