Nova Scotia’s libraries are still waiting to see if they will receive emergency funding from the province.
Dave Ritcey, Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage told reporters last week, the province is still considering the request from council for $1.6 million in additional funds.
“We had a library funding review committee that made recommendations to form funding mechanisms and decisions in the province, [they] continue to review those opportunities,” said Ritcey.
When asked how long this process will take, those details remained unclear.
However, Ritcey said libraries are a “valued partner” and the province will continue to work with them.
The issue of needing more money has been ongoing for some time.
It March, our newsroom spoke with Eric Stackhouse, Chief Librarian for the Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library, when the current agreement was only weeks away from expiring.
With no increases planned for libraries in the provincial budget, staff would feel it, with hours, services, programs that would also take a big hit.
In an email to our newsroom Wednesday, Stackhouse says their eight municipalities have written to the government about their concerns, but so far, there has been no resolution.
“The library board continues to urge the provincial government to provide emergency bridge funding and work towards a new funding formula,” says Stackhouse.
He adds, the library board met in April to consider options, as establishing an operational budget for this fiscal year needs to happen soon.
That has been delayed until June.
