Palaces For the People- Empowering Communities

OCTOBER 18-20, 2019, White Point Beach Resort

South Shore Public Libraries is pleased to be hosting the 2019 Nova Scotia Library Association/Library Boards of Nova Scotia Annual Conference, Palaces For the People -Empowering Communities.

Whether your library is a grand historic edifice or a popup in the local strip mall it is, at its essence, a physical place. Reading, community building, sharing,  and existing, all of it happens in that space. Libraries across the province are reimagining their spaces not as warehouses, but as the beating hearts of the community.

Passionate about libraries? Join us at the iconic, historic, oceanfront White Point Beach Resort for a weekend of professional development, social connections and fun at this year’s NSLA/LBANS Conference!

The conference kicks off on Friday afternoon with some great preconference sessions: the Nova Scotia Health Authority will be sharing information about the Opioid Crisis and showing folks how to use Naloxone in case of emergency.  Chairs of the One Card NS project will share an update,  and Sheena Masson, SSPL employee and certified canoe and kayak instructor, will host a kayaking for beginners workshop.

On Friday evening we’ll have welcoming remarks and an opening keynote from George Elliot Clarke. Dinner will be a barbeque, and we’ll round off the evening with a bonfire and Nova Scotia ghost stories led by local author Vernon Oickle.

Saturday morning’s keynote will be delivered by author and activist Dave Meslin. Dave is a community organizer and author of 2 books; Local Motion: The Art of Civic Engagement in Toronto and Teardown: Rebuilding Democracy from the Ground Up(coming out in May). Have a listen to his Ted Talk “The Antidote to Apathy” and you’ll realize this is a must-attend presentation.

Saturday’s highlights include presenters from all types of libraries plus authors from around the province.  Maybe you want to learn about hosting Pride events, after hours open hours, Library and Archives Canada, how to hatch and dispatch Monarchs in your branch. You can engage in discussions about whether listening to audiobooks  is really reading, how to keep your palace doors open, or listen to author Lesley Crewe or student activist Stella Bowles. Saturday has something interesting for everyone!

The Atlantic ocean will provide a spectacular backdrop for Saturday evening’s meal and awards. After dinner, Valley comedian and author Jay Malone will send us off with a smile to walk the beach, have a drink, or relax in front of the fireplace.

Sunday morning’s plenary session is titled “Chiefs on the Hot Seat”. This moderated Q & A will feature Chief Librarians from across the province. Please come prepared and ask a Chief something you’ve always wanted to know!

We encourage you to join us for a great weekend at White Point Beach Resort.
The 2019 Conference focuses on how to innovate, inspire, and connect with the library community across Nova Scotia. We are expecting this year’s conference to be one of the best yet, with programs that apply to all areas of library work, from front line staff to Board members.

For more information and to register please check out:  nsla-lbans2019.ca

Conference Chair
Christina Pottie