News

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.

For more than 30 years, this St. John’s public library has made its home in the west end, but next month it will close this chapter in its story.

The Michael Donovan Public Library is leaving the Waterford Valley Mall on Topsail Road. Its last day in its current location is June 13.

“We’ve had a really great time there, we’re trying to stay positive and hopefully we’ll find a new location really soon,” regional librarian Emma Craig told CBC Radio’s The St. John’s Morning Show.

Continue reading “NL: This west end St. John’s library will soon shutter — and is on the hunt for a new home” →

The Ex Libris Association Education Committee is proud to present:

Mis/Disinformation, its toxic impacts, and how we can all fight back
With former MP Peter Julian

Date: Wednesday, June 10
Time: 2:00 pm Atlantic/2:30 pm NL

A big fan of libraries and librarians, Peter will kick off this important discussion on mis/disinformation by detailing the sources and distribution of false information promoted through the web giants and social media platforms. He will flag the many documented harms that result. We’ll then open the floor for participants to give real life examples of how they have seen misinformation and disinformation arise in their communities and discuss successful strategies to combat it.

**********

Peter Julian was a Member of Parliament for the New Democratic Party (NDP) from 2004 to 2025. He also served as the house leader for the NDP for much of his political career. The Georgia Straight newspaper has called Julian “one of the region’s hardest working politicians”. He remains very active in the Burnaby/New Westminster communities.

**********

Join instructions:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meetings/82625840139/invitations?signature=aT-i3JBUoDpMkGKGl8mQW6tbCOGNm4LVsPiVrVO0KVw

 

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 popularity of little free libraries has exploded over the past fifteen years and there are now thousands of neighbourhood book-sharing boxes across Canada.

Over a century ago, another type of miniature library could be found in Newfoundland and Labrador’s most isolated communities: travelling book boxes supplied by the Grenfell Mission.

Continue reading “NL: N.L.’s travelling book boxes were the little free libraries of the early 1900s” →

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.

Using Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design to Create Safer, More Welcoming Library Spaces
A Library 2.0 Service, Safety, and Security Webinar with Dr. Steve Albrecht

Libraries are among the most open, accessible, and inclusive public spaces in any community. But those same qualities can also make them vulnerable to safety and security concerns. From poor sightlines and inadequate lighting to design choices that unintentionally create opportunities for disorder, many libraries face challenges that can be addressed not with more rules or restrictions, but with smarter design. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) offers a practical, evidence-based framework for making libraries safer while preserving the welcoming character that defines them.

This webinar introduces library staff and leaders to the core principles of CPTED and how they apply specifically to library environments. Participants will learn how thoughtful adjustments to lighting, layout, sightlines, furniture placement, landscaping, and staff positioning can deter unwanted behavior, increase natural surveillance, and foster a greater sense of safety for both patrons and employees.

Led by Tad Twidwell, a CPTED Professional Designation (CPD) instructor with over two decades of combined experience in public safety and library leadership, this program provides actionable strategies that can be applied immediately. Tad currently manages physical security and integrated safety systems for a public library system, giving him a distinctive, practitioner-level perspective on how design and daily operations intersect.

Whether your library is planning a renovation, looking to improve its current space, or simply wants to better understand how the built environment affects patron and staff behavior, this webinar will provide a solid foundation in CPTED principles tailored to the unique needs of public libraries.

Learning agenda:

  • Introduce the core principles of CPTED – Natural Surveillance, Natural Access Control, Territorial Reinforcement, and Maintenance – and discuss how each applies to library interior and exterior spaces.
  • Examine common library design vulnerabilities and how small, cost-effective changes to lighting, sightlines, landscaping, and furniture layout can improve safety outcomes.
  • Discuss the role of staff visibility and positioning in creating safer environments and how CPTED strategies can support and empower library employees.
  • Explore how to conduct a basic CPTED walk-through survey of your own library, including what to look for and how to document findings for facilities and leadership teams.
  • Discuss community engagement and partnerships with local agencies, social service providers, and volunteers as part of a comprehensive CPTED approach.

Date: Thursday, April 30, 2026, 2:00 – 3:00 pm US – Eastern Time

Cost:

  • $99/person – includes live attendance and any-time access to the recording and the presentation slides and receiving a participation certificate.
  • To arrange group discounts (see below), to submit a purchase order, or for any registration difficulties or questions, email admin@library20.com.

To register:

Click here to register and pay. You will receive an email within a day with information on how to attend the webinar live and how you can access the permanent webinar recording. If you are paying for someone else to attend, you’ll be prompted to send an email to admin@library20.com with the name and email address of the actual attendee.

If you need to be invoiced or pay by check, if you have any trouble registering for a webinar, or if you have any questions, please email admin@library20.com.

Note: Please check your spam folder if you don’t receive your confirmation email within a day.

Special group rates (email admin@library20.com to arrange):

  • Multiple individual log-ins and access from the same organization paid together: $75 each for 3+ registrations, $65 each for 5+ registrations. Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.
  • The ability to show the webinar (live or recorded) to a group located in the same physical location or in the same virtual meeting from one log-in: $299.
  • Large-scale institutional access for viewing with individual login capability: $499 (hosted either at Library 2.0 or in Niche Academy). Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.

 

 

This free two-day event is for library workers, lab managers, research / ethics personnel, and research computing / IT specialists who offer research data management (RDM) support in Atlantic Canadian post-secondary institutions. The program features case-study presentations and facilitated design sessions that will provide opportunities for training, collaboration, and networking. Participants will gain job-specific knowledge, local connections, and adaptable materials to help support RDM as a service in their own institutions.

Attendance is by application only, and limited funding is available to support travel and accommodation for participants from any province in the Atlantic region.

Date: September 22 – 23, 2026
Venue: Halifax Convention Centre, Halifax, NS
Audience: RDM practitioners at Atlantic academic institutions, such as library workers, lab managers, research office / ethics personnel, or computing / IT specialists.

Visit https://atlantic-rdm.github.io/ for more information and to submit your application.