From Dalhousie University:

We are deeply concerned by the announcement that Nova Scotia Community College will eliminate 91 positions, including all campus librarian positions and the Director of Library Services. We stand in solidarity with the librarians, staff, faculty, and students directly affected by these decisions. Libraries are not optional services within educational institutions; they are a foundational infrastructure for learning, equity, critical inquiry, digital literacy, and community connection. Librarians are educators, information specialists, and public servants whose work supports student success, lifelong learning, evidence-based decision-making, and access to trustworthy information. Their expertise is especially vital at a time when misinformation, technological disruption, and widening social inequities increasingly shape public life.

The elimination of professional librarian positions has consequences that extend far beyond physical campus access. NSCC libraries serve students across the province, including rural and underserved communities, newcomers, first-generation learners, and those pursuing retraining and career transitions. Removing access to professional library services weakens the academic and social supports that many students rely upon to succeed. Librarians help instructors, staff, and students adapt to new technologies and digital modes of learning. As educators, students, alumni, and friends of the Master of Information program at Dalhousie University, we see every day the breadth and importance of the information professions. Our graduates work in academic, public, school, health, government, and community settings where they help people navigate complex information environments, preserve collective memory, protect privacy and intellectual freedom, support research and innovation, and build more informed and inclusive communities.

The elimination of librarian positions at NSCC raises broader concerns about the future of information services in Nova Scotia. Decisions that diminish professional library expertise risk undermining the educational mission of our public institutions and devaluing the specialized knowledge required to steward information ethically and effectively.

We urge NSCC and the provincial government to reconsider these cuts and to recognize that investments in libraries and librarians are investments in students, communities, workforce development, and the public good.We extend our support to our colleagues at NSCC and reaffirm our commitment to advocating for the vital role of librarians and information professionals throughout Nova Scotia and beyond.

If you wish to sign this open letter, please do so using this form.