N.S. library users hold ‘read-in’ to protest closures, MLA says anger misdirected - BERITAJA

Armed pinch books and immoderate camping chairs, a group of protesters gathered for a “read-in” extracurricular MLA John Lohr’s constituency agency successful Kentville, N.S., successful guidance to upcoming room closures.

Annapolis Valley Regional Library (AVRL) has announced it’s shutting down 5 of its 11 libraries effective July 20, citing a “structural backing deficit” and pointing retired there’s nary summation to provincial room backing for 2026-27.

“Libraries person been screaming about the deficiency of backing aliases the insufficient funding, and for librarians to beryllium screaming, you cognize that the rumor is an important one,” said Gillian Yorke, who organized the objection Tuesday.

“For me, for illustration personally arsenic a room personification but besides arsenic a organization citizen, losing libraries has a devastating and long-lasting effect connected our communities arsenic a whole.”

AVRL did not respond to BERITAJA’ petition for an interview.

The non-profit statement wrote successful a news merchandise Monday that each 8 municipalities it serves had committed further money, but these contributions won’t beryllium capable to screen the deficiency of backing increases from the province. In February, Tim Houston’s Progressive Conservative authorities tabled a fund pinch a projected grounds shortage astatine $1.2 billion, which led to a bid of unpopular fund cuts.

The affected branches are successful Hantsport, Kentville, Lawrencetown, Middleton and Port Williams.

Some participating successful the “read-in” came from smaller towns and opportunity they spot the closures arsenic the opening of the extremity of their communities

“If you don’t person a car — and we don’t person nationalist transit — truthful closing our room is conscionable different nail successful the coffin. You’re fundamentally saying Hantsport doesn’t merit to beryllium a municipality anymore, you mightiness arsenic good conscionable wantonness it,” said Caet Moir.

Outside the Kentville library, users were shocked the installation was connected the chopping block.

“I recovered it’s a really unusual determination that was made because it’s specified a engaged room and truthful galore group successful this area and this region they travel to this library,” said Betty Mommen.

MLA and state respond

In response, MLA Lohr wrote connected societal media that the state didn’t trim AVRL’s funding, but maintained the magnitude from 2025.

He stressed that the closure determination was yet made by the room board.

“I americium amazed and disappointed by AVRL’s decision. Everyone has the correct to beryllium upset and inquire questions, including why the determination was made without consulting communities,” he wrote.

“It is important to maine that you cognize that these closures were not a determination our authorities was portion of.”

According to the province, the provincial authorities provides 71 per cent of each location library’s yearly budget, municipalities supply 26 per cent and room boards raise a minimum of 3 per cent done fundraising. In Halifax, however, the state provides 26 per cent and the municipality provides 71 per cent.

The state says it besides offers further backing extracurricular the yearly fund rhythm successful consequence to requests from the Council of Regional Librarians.

“We cognize really overmuch libraries matter to Nova Scotians. That’s why we supply much than $16 cardinal each twelvemonth successful support — and why authorities protected that backing successful this year’s budget,” the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage said successful a statement.

“Losing a section room is difficult, and we understand what these branches mean to the communities they serve. As an independently governed location room system, these decisions remainder pinch the Annapolis Valley Regional Library’s board. The Province respects that and remains a committed partner.”

As for what will hap to the communities if the closures spell ahead, room users successful the organization are worried.

“When you suffer that captious portion of organization infrastructure, your organization arsenic a whole, the ripple effects of that are monolithic and they won’t beryllium afloat understood immediately,” said Yorke.