Category: APLA

APLA is seeking enthusiastic and committed volunteers to join the Mentorship Program Committee.

The Mentorship Program will play an important role in supporting professional growth, building connections, and strengthening our library community across Atlantic Canada. We are looking for members who are interested in helping guide and enhance this program.

Committee members may contribute to:

  • Program planning and development
  • Recruitment and support of mentors and mentees
  • Promotion and outreach
  • Assessment and continuous improvement of the program
  • Creating meaningful opportunities for professional engagement

Whether you are an experienced professional, an emerging leader, or someone passionate about mentorship and community building, we welcome your interest.

The committee will meet approximately bi-weekly until we’re up and running, and then as needed, and members should be prepared to contribute between meetings as required.

To express interest or to learn more, please contact Terri Winchcombe (past-president@apla.ca) by September 18, 2026.

We encourage members from ALL library sectors, ALL library workers, and ALL career stages to consider joining us.

Thank you for helping support the next generation of library professionals and leaders.

 

Want to help plan a conference?

Are you interested in learning how to organize a conference, build your project management skills, and make new connections in the library world?

APLA is looking for volunteers to help plan the APLA 2027 Conference tentatively taking place in St. John’s, NL! We’re currently seeking conference coordinator(s) as well as subcommittee members:

  • Programming
  • Entertainment
  • Sponsorship
  • Promotions
  • Registration
  • Treasurer
  • Technology

APLA members from all four Atlantic Canada provinces are encouraged to volunteer!

Time commitment: 5-10 hours/week beginning September 2026 until the conference is held.

Whether you’re looking to expand your resume, grow your leadership experience, or just want to meet new friends in the Atlantic Provinces library community — we’d love to have you on the team!

Interested? Reach out to us at president@apla.ca

 

Dear Premier Houston,

The news of the closures of five branch libraries in the Annapolis Valley Regional Library system was met with distress and disbelief by the members of our association. APLA represents approximately 400 library workers and library supporters across the Atlantic region. I am writing on their behalf to ask that you reconsider the proposed cuts to Nova Scotia libraries, which are not only foundational to communities, but also critical to our regional economy.

The importance of libraries in our province cannot be overstated. They are essential to lifelong learning and skills development for Nova Scotians of all ages. The loss of community libraries, especially those with youth-focused education initiatives, will reduce access to creative learning opportunities across the province. Beyond the immediate impact on these particular branches and their immediate communities, these cuts threaten long-term negative impacts on cultural life, social cohesion, and the broader economy of Nova Scotia.

The consequences of these cuts will be felt immediately. All libraries – public, academic, and special – are essential to the province and its well-being. While the Minister of Community, Culture, Tourism, and Heritage stated that “library funding was not cut,” the elimination of emergency bridge funding effectively reduces operational capacity, particularly for rural and regional libraries already coping with rising material costs. For many communities, even modest funding losses translate into reduced hours, fewer programs, delayed acquisitions, and staffing shortages. Libraries operate in partnership; when
cultural programming shrinks, libraries are left to absorb increased demand with fewer resources. The closing of the 5 branches in the AVRL system is a direct result of underfunding our library systems.

While we acknowledge the fiscal pressures facing the province, it is difficult to accept that reductions to libraries will benefit Nova Scotians in any way. We would like to emphasize that libraries can also be considered a cornerstone of a well-functioning democracy as illustrated by the following example from one of our members:

During an international advocacy tour through several post-Soviet states, a group of about 80
international library professionals witnessed communities celebrating libraries as fundamental
pillars of freedom. Local and national politicians frequently met with the group to extol the
virtues of open information.

In one capital city, the Minister of Culture spoke proudly outside a major national library facility
then under construction. At the time, it stood in stark contrast to the severe funding rollbacks
occurring within the participant’s home country’s national institutions. Even the smallest rural
communities ensured they maintained a local branch, sometimes sharing a single room with a
civic office or local storefront.

This warm reception was rooted in the collective memory of decades under authoritarian rule, a
time when access to information was strictly restricted and privileged. To these populations,
modern libraries directly represented democracy. A functioning democracy requires equal
access to information, serving as a societal equalizer for those lacking computers or internet access.
In contrast, during a subsequent visit to a Southeast Asian nation recovering from
historic, violent totalitarian rule, the systemic execution of library workers had completely
decimated the local information infrastructure, leaving remaining historical collections restricted
to select officials.— (Anonymous, personal communication, June 3, 2026)

The concerns we raise here are widely shared across the services we support and the communities we serve. We respectfully urge you to reconsider and properly fund libraries, recognizing the profound and lasting impact they have on individuals, organizations, and the broader economy of Nova Scotia. We thank you for your attention to this matter and remain ready to engage in constructive dialogue toward a resolution.

Sincerely and on behalf of the APLA membership,

Terri Winchcombe
APLA President, 2025/26

To Mayor Andy Fillmore
Halifax Regional Municipality

May 25, 2026

RE: Open Letter Regarding Funding for School Librarians

Dear Mayor Fillmore,

The Atlantic Provinces Library Association (APLA) represents library workers and supporters across the Atlantic region, all of whom believe that school librarians are critically important to student success in primary and secondary institutions. I am writing on their behalf to acknowledge the immediate relief offered by the new agreement, and to respectfully ask that the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) reconsider phasing out this important investment.

The direct link between school libraries and student achievement cannot be refuted. Decades of research has documented the positive correlation between school libraries and student achievement under the direction of qualified staff (Curry Lance & D. Kachal, 2018). Moreover, school librarians are leading the charge in realigning the library to anticipate the learning needs of today’s K-12 students. These highly qualified professionals are uniquely positioned to support students, faculty, and administrators as they navigate the intersection of information, technology, and experiential learning and lay the foundation for responsible digital citizenship. Without a school librarian, the library learning commons is just another room in the building.

Thank you for your commitment to funding for the next five years. While the reprieve is a relief for school librarians, the lack of certainty has been “extremely stressful and difficult on all the members” (Ryan, 2026). Ongoing commitment to school librarians is good for Halifax’s economy, its continued tax base, and the future of education in Nova Scotia. We stand in solidarity with CUPE Local 5047 and their promise to “continue to advocate and fight for the importance of these positions” (Ryan, 2026). On their behalf, and on behalf of the APLA membership, I respectfully encourage continued investment in the youth of your province by ensuring that this funding continues beyond the current five-year limit.

Sincerely, on behalf of the APLA Membership,

Terri Winchcombe
APLA President, 2025/26

To the Honourable Brendan Maguire
Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

May 25, 2026

RE: Open Letter Regarding Funding for School Librarians

Dear Minister Maguire,

The Atlantic Provinces Library Association (APLA) represents library workers and supporters across the Atlantic region, all of whom believe that school librarians are critically important to student success in primary and secondary institutions. I am writing on their behalf to acknowledge the immediate relief offered by the new agreement between the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE), and to echo the request that the province Department “commit to replacing any funding for Halifax school librarians” (Ryan, 2026).

The direct link between school libraries and student achievement cannot be refuted. Decades of research has documented the positive correlation between school libraries and student achievement under the direction of qualified staff.1 Moreover, school librarians are leading the charge in realigning the library to anticipate the learning needs of today’s K-12 students. These highly qualified professionals are uniquely positioned to support students, faculty, and administrators as they navigate the intersection of information, technology, and experiential learning and lay the foundation for responsible digital citizenship. Without a school librarian, the library learning commons is just another room in the building.

In March of this year, we wrote to Premier Houston to express our concern with proposed budget cuts, but received no response. We did, however, receive a response from the office of the Honourable Becky Durham acknowledging our advocacy efforts. While the Minister of Community, Culture, Tourism, and Heritage stated at the time that “library funding was not cut,” we are about to witness the impact of reduced funding on the learning experiences of our children and their continued success in primary and secondary education. We cannot let this happen.

Thank you for acknowledging the “great impact” that [school] librarians have on education in Nova Scotia, and for taking the opportunity provided by the five year commitment by HRM and HRCE to engage in “discussions and planning with the province on long-term funding and support for students and school communities” (Ryan, 2026). On their behalf, and on behalf of the APLA membership, I respectfully encourage continued investment in the youth of your province by ensuring that funding for these positions continues beyond the next five years.

Sincerely, on behalf of the APLA Membership,

Terri Winchcombe
APLA President, 2025/26

 

The last number of years have been challenging, and those challenges have been further exacerbated by recent budget cuts at the federal, provincial, and organizational levels. These cuts have had a significant impact on our libraries and on our colleagues in the heritage, publishing, and broader arts and culture sectors.

With this in mind, we are looking to put together a panel discussion or “fireside chat” session (other format suggestions welcome!) that would be part of the APLA 2026 programme, which provides an opportunity to discuss advocacy for our sectors in the face of these cuts.

Ideally, the panel will focus not only on the impact of budget cuts, but also on successful (or unsuccessful) advocacy initiatives, barriers to advocacy work, opportunities for future initiatives and collaborations across sectors and regions.

We are hoping for a 45-60 minute discussion. The session is currently booked for June 17th at 2:40PM ADT at the Delta Dartmouth Hotel.

If you are interested in participating and/or have questions or ideas, please respond to Lisa Marshall at your earliest convenience.

 

The following letter was sent to Anna Burke, Acting NSCC President:

**********

The news of the sweeping elimination of all campus librarian positions and a library Director at Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) was met with shock and distress by members of our association. The Atlantic Provinces Library Association (APLA) represents library workers and supporters across the Atlantic region, all of whom believe that librarians are critically important to student success in postsecondary institutions. I am writing on their behalf to respectfully ask that you reconsider this decision and reinstate these positions.

As reported to CBC News, these decisions were made “while keeping program delivery and student support top of mind.” Library staff provide essential services to both faculty and students that cannot be replaced or replicated. Librarians and library technicians contribute to the institution in unique but equally vital ways, working together to ensure students receive
informed professional guidance, reliable access to resources, and responsive service. The sudden decimation of campus librarian positions will leave your frontline technicians unsupported. It will significantly impact student learning and faculty applied research and innovation projects. This decision not only undermines the importance of librarians in the delivery of library services, but it also will have long-term negative impacts on the students you aim to support. A library is an integral part of a campus community, and its staff are irreplaceable. The decision to eliminate campus librarians cannot be reconciled with the claim that “leadership had a ‘laser focus’ on maintaining programming and student support.”

The inspiring work coming out of NSCC over the years has clearly demonstrated that librarians are essential to the operation of your libraries and to the success of your institution. Moreover, these layoffs are not, in fact, rooted in NSCC’s values and principles per your Strategic Plan; namely, accessibility, student and employee success and public accountability. We stand with the Atlantic Academic Union and their concern about how this will impact the students of NSCC. If, as Acting Vice President Stacey Baillie claimed, “[NSCC] students can expect and will get the best programming, the best supports and services that will help them prepare for college, succeed while they’re at college, thrive in their programs, and ultimately find meaningful careers in the workforce,” then it is imperative that these positions be reinstated.

Sincerely, on behalf of the APLA Membership,

Terri Winchcombe
APLA President, 2025/26

New deadline: May 15th

Presented during the Annual Conference, the APLA Merit Award honours an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to library services in the Atlantic Provinces.

Some of the contributions that might be considered in selecting a person for this award are: leadership in library associations at the local, regional and provincial levels; contributions to the development, application and utilization of library services and library systems; significant contribution to library literature.

If you know someone who you would like to nominate for the APLA Merit Award, please submit nominations, including documentation of the nominee’s achievements and letters of support, to APLA’s Past President, past-president@apla.ca.

We are just 50 days out from our first in-person conference since 2019!

A reminder that the OGM will take place on the last day of the conference (June 17). Resolutions concerning the policies and practices of the association will be formally considered at the Resolutions Session. Resolutions affecting the policy of the association may come from committees, interest groups, workshops, or any member of the association. They may be submitted directly to Lisa Marshall, VP/President Elect, Convenor of the Resolutions Committee, c/o of the Conference Registration Desk. The latest time the Resolutions Committee will receive resolutions is 9:00AM EST, Tuesday, June 16 at the Registration Desk. A computer will be available at this time for the use of movers and seconders of resolutions.

To this end, please note this official call for members for the Resolutions Committee. Membership of this committee shall be two to four members attending the OGM. The membership should include persons fluent in the official languages.

 

Are you an APLA member and a musician? We’re looking for performers to be part of the upcoming APLA Conference entertainment!

We are seeking individuals or groups interested in performing on Monday, June 15th as part of the conference evening programming.

Date: Monday June 15th, 7-9pm
Event: APLA Conference, Delta Dartmouth Hotel
Compensation: A stipend will be provided

If you’re interested, please reach out to conference@apla.ca