We are outraged to hear about the closure of five of eleven libraries in the Annapolis Valley Regional Library; Lawrencetown, Middleton, Hantsport, Kentville, and Port Williams libraries will all be closing. While we knew cuts were coming, the magnitude of the cuts is extreme.
Libraries are far more than places that lend books. They are community anchors staffed by highly skilled librarians and library workers who deliver essential services that support education, employment, digital literacy, and social inclusion.
For people without reliable internet, quiet study space, or access to social services, the library is often the first and only place they can turn. Library workers routinely help individuals file taxes, access benefits, learn digital skills, and connect with community supports. These are not incidental services. They are essential supports that strengthen the social and economic foundation of communities across Annapolis Valley.
Make no mistake, these closures, layoffs, and loss of services are a direct result of the Tim Houston Conservative Government’s budget cuts. They can claim that they have not made cuts to library funding, but years of underfunding and no increases since 2020, a time that saw inflation of 20%, which is effectively a 20% budget cut, has led to this moment. The inaction by MLAs from Annapolis, Hants West, Kings North, Kings South, and Kings West will have severe impacts throughout the Annapolis Valley.
We will not take these cuts sitting down. We will organize throughout the Annapolis Valley to advocate for the proper funding of our public libraries and to ensure our communities continue to have access to the services they depend on. We will provide more information in the coming days as more information is released.