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Library Association launches new website
The News January 23, 2010

Library Association launches new website

New Glasgow  – The Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library is asking county residents to stand up for it.

The Library Boards Association of Nova Scotia has launched its new website, www.standupforlibraries.ca, to inform the over 300,000 Nova Scotians who use public libraries about the issues surrounding the service.

"Public libraries in this province loan over seven million books and other materials each year," explains LBANS President Mary MacLellan. "But users really don't know how they are funded, how they operate, and the issues they face. The website is a first step in changing that."

The Library Boards Association of Nova Scotia advocates on behalf of regional public library boards and is asking users of public libraries to stand up and show their support by learning more about the issues and letting their political representatives know they value the service.

The site summarizes what libraries do for lifelong education and self-improvement and how they make communities better places to live and work.

MacLellan says most people are unaware that the province requested a report be prepared on how to fairly fund public libraries. "A tremendous amount of work was done on that report, realistic recommendations were made that affect ever library user, Education Minister Marilyn More released it in October, and now we are waiting to see if anything will come of it,” she said. “The public should know what is in that report and it's our responsibility to let them know."

The Task Force Report is available on www.standupforlibraries.ca as is other information about LBANS and library issues. Users are also encouraged to tell their own library story, which will be posted on the site.

"It is not enough these days to use a service a lot," explains MacLellan. "People need to be informed and speak out. The Library Boards Association is asking public library users to check out standupforlibraries.ca and be counted".

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