Article contentDomet, the co-founder and co-executive director of the AfterWords Literary Festival, is the author of Homing and Fallsy Downsies, both published by Invisible. She is currently working on a third book.Article content Annapolis Valley Regional Library CEO Julia Merritt says a recent donation from Nova Scotia author Rachel Reid is “incredibly generous” but sustainable provincial and municipal funding is needed if all regional library branches are to survive beyond the end of the fiscal year. Photo by FILE PHOTO /PostmediaArticle contentSustainable funding essentialArticle contentMerritt said that while the $300,000 gift from Reid will keep all regional library branches operating until the end of the current fiscal year, “the underlying financial insecurity remains.”Article contentIf there is not a solution to the sustainable funding issue from the province and municipal funding partners, “the board will have to return to major service reductions in 2027-28.”Article contentShe said the regional library board has come under “significant pressure” to increase its fundraising and to use its unrestricted and restricted reserves.Article content“It has now done all of those things, and while Rachel’s gift is incredibly generous, it in no way replaces the critical need for sustainable government funding for public libraries in Nova Scotia,” Merritt said.Article contentArticle contentProvincial funding for regional libraries remains frozen at 2020-2025 levels. The Annapolis Valley Regional Library has been calling on the provincial government for a new, sustainable funding formula for regional libraries for the past couple of years.Article contentThe Annapolis Valley Regional Library announced a major restructuring of library services on June 1, including the closure of the Hantsport, Kentville, Lawrencetown, Middleton, and Port Williams branches on July 20.Article contentAt a special library board meeting in Wolfville on July 13, members voted to use a portion of remaining, unallocated reserve funds to keep the doors of the five branches open until Sept. 30.Article contentThe board also voted to go back to the eight partner municipalities to ask that they provide the full increased budget amount requested earlier this year.Article contentThe Lawrencetown village commission has decided to begin operating the Dr. Frank W. Morse Memorial Library, which was an Annapolis Valley Regional Library branch, independently.Article contentArticle contentMerritt said funds to keep the Lawrencetown branch operating until the end of September would have come from the regional library’s reserves. These funds will now remain in the unrestricted reserve until the library board decides what to do with them in the future.Article content The Lawrencetown village commission has decided to begin operating the Dr. Frank W. Morse Memorial Library, which was an Annapolis Valley Regional Library branch, independently. Photo by FILE PHOTO /PostmediaArticle contentMunicipal fundingArticle contentOnly three municipal partners, Kentville, Annapolis Royal, and West Hants, initially provided the full increased funding amount requested by the library board. The amounts are $21,400, $1,700, and $67,200 respectively.Article contentAs of the end of July, Middleton has also contributed the full amount requested, $6,150, while the County of Annapolis has confirmed it’s maintaining its previous commitment, 26 per cent of the ask, or $16,991 of $65,350.Article contentKings County, Berwick, and Wolfville councils are taking a break in August but will address the regional library’s request for increased funding in September.Article contentTo date, Kings County council has granted 50 per cent of the original ask, $82,900 of $165,800. Berwick council has granted 67 per cent, $4,350 of $6,500, and Wolfville council has granted 26 per, $3,939 of $15,150.Article content
Rachel Reid fundraiser to help keep Annapolis Valley Regional Library doors open
