The Nova Scotia Library Association Announces 2025 Award Recipients

Truro, NS (September 16, 2025): The Nova Scotia Library Association (NSLA) is thrilled to recognize individuals, organizations, and initiatives that have greatly contributed to Nova Scotia’s libraries.

From library advocacy to program development, the recipients of NSLA’s 2025 awards have supported school, academic and public libraries with outstanding service to their institutions and communities.

Awards will be presented to recipients during the Libraries, Archives, & Museums Conference, held from October 2nd to 4th, 2025, in Halifax. 

 

The Association is pleased to announce the recipients of the following awards:

The Norman Horrocks Award for Library Leadership was established to honour leadership in the Nova Scotia Library community and is given by NSLA for distinguished contributions to the promotion and development of library service in Nova Scotia. Those contributions should be of lasting significance and may be for leadership of various kinds – ranging from local projects to those of provincial scope and may cover any type of library activity.

This year’s winner, Terri Milton, has over 25 years of library experience in university and community college libraries.  Since retiring in 2022, Terri has been volunteering with the Valley Hospice Foundation as a Volunteer Librarian.  This lead to a discussion with other Valley Hospice team members about the value of grief literacy, which lead to the Grief Library project.  

This latest project is just one reason why Terri was nominated for this award by her peers.  In her work as the Campus Librarian at NSCC Kingstec Campus, she worked with the students and with Accessibility Services to optimize library space to create an inclusive and welcoming environment to support diverse learning needs.   

A tireless supporter of libraries, Terri has also volunteered her time on committees and boards as diverse as the MSVU Senate Committee on Teaching & Learning: Faculty Development and the Steering Committee of the ABC Copyright Conference, as founder of the Nova Scotia School Library Network, and as a board member of the Annapolis Valley Regional Library Board. 

The Emile Theriault Library and Information Technology Award was established in 2006, to recognizes the efforts of a library support staff member, who has made a major contribution to their library community.

The 2025 winner is Christina Pottie. Christina is currently the Communications and Engagement Lead at South Shore Public Libraries, where she has been employed for over 20 years. She has been credited as being the driver behind the successful Lunenburg Literary Festival.  This festival has been running for 10 years and has brought renowned authors such as Michael Crummey, Wayne Johnston, Donna Morrissey and more to Lunenburg during the Fall. 

In addition to running a literary festival “off the side of her desk”, she has been key to bringing new technology, including training and access, to residents of the South Shore through her work with @NS (formerly known as C@P).  And she’s a mainstay in the library’s programming team, developing and delivering programs such as Babies & Books, attending community events, and applying for grants to support so much more.

About the Nova Scotia Library Association: The Nova Scotia Library Association is an association for those involved in librarianship/library and information studies at all levels and in all regions in Nova Scotia.

Its purpose is to facilitate the exchange of ideas, and to promote a forum for the discussion of issues amongst people concerned with library and information services.

Formed in 1973, it is a vehicle for library workers to exchange ideas, enhance skills, keep abreast of local issues, and to promote the value of libraries.

Media Contact:

Jeff Mercer

NSLA President

jmercer@cehpubliclibrary.ca