Due to unforeseen circumstances, our AGM, scheduled for September 21, 2020 has been rescheduled for October 30th, 2020 at 9am. Please keep an eye on your inbox for more details.

On behalf of the NSLA board, which has approved bringing this statement forward to the membership at the AGM for inclusion in NSLA’s standing orders, we would like to issue the following: The Nova Scotia Library Association believes that Black Lives Matter. We unequivocally condemn the systemic racism and police brutality disproportionately experienced by Black and Indigenous people. At the same time, we recognize the library sector, our institutions, and our practices reinforce and perpetuate colonialism, white privilege, and other systems of inequity. We have much work to do. Canadian Senator and Nova Scotian Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard said, “We need to listen with humility and act with purpose. We are striving to listen, learn, educate, and make critical changes to create informed, participatory, and inclusive communities.” NSLA is committed to action and accountability as follows: A. NSLA will share resources that amplify the voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BI...

With libraries across Nova Scotia closed due to COVID-19, things in the library world are certainly in a state of flux right now. Libraries are looking at their services, adding new digital resources, and trying to figure out how and when to re-open and how to deliver service to the public. And not just in Nova Scotia. We’ve compiled some links from libraries around the world, as we look at best practises and see how other libraries are handling this pandemic. We hope these resources will be helpful, and if you know of others that we should be aware of, make sure to add a comment! Re-Opening Resources: From Australia – the Australian Library and Information Association has developed a checklist for returning to service. It is comprehensive and detailed.  Manitoba libraries are beginning to reopen. Here’s a link from the Province of Manitoba with guidelines for library and museums reopening. The New Jersey State Library has a COVID-19 Hub that includes some good resources for wh...

It is with a heavy heart that the Nova Scotia Library Association and the Cape Breton Regional Library announce that the 2020 NSLA/LBANS conference is going to be cancelled for this year. CBRL has graciously offered to host in 2021. We will set dates for the 2021 conference once things in the world are more settled. As well, our Spring Professional Development workshops have been postponed. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, all public libraries in Nova Scotia have been closed, and most university libraries as well. Libraries have stepped up with additional online resources and are providing access to information in this trying time. Our AGM will be held in the fall, as per our bylaws. We will update you with details and dates as they are decided. Stay well and wash your hands- Denise Corey, NSLA President and the NSLA board

Food Literacy: Building Community Through Food This session will provide a snapshot of how food programming can be a powerful outreach tool to welcome and empower communities. Participants will discuss dynamic community-led programming with emphasis on libraries as a third place. Presented by Emily Glover, Food Literacy Specialist at the Halifax Public Libraries. This workshop will: • Increase understanding of the benefits of food literacy programming for all ages • Explore ways to reduce food insecurity and social isolation in your community • Develop skills needed to plan food literacy programming in your library, big or small Topics will include : • Intro to food literacy • Teaching food skills and food safety in public libraries • Snacks in the stacks: Addressing food insecurity by offering healthy after-school snacks to youth and vulnerable adults • Case study: How we got started with food at HPL (case study for the newcomer cooking club, and description of all the food literacy p...

Happy New Year, one and all! As we all embark on our journey into the next decade, let’s take a peak at how libraries across Nova Scotia wrapped up 2019. The NSLA Newsletter for Fall, 2019 has been added to the newsletter page . If you would like to reminisce even further, visit our newsletter archives page. We have newsletters available dating all the way back to the turn of the century! Ian MacIntosh, Faye MacDougall, Rita Marman, and Rosalie Gillis

The Nova Scotia Library Association (NSLA) announced the recipients of their professional awards on October 19th, 2019 during the annual conference held at White Point Beach Resort in Liverpool. Wendy Trimper (L.), and Ann-Marie Mathieu (R.) 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. This year’s recipient was Wendy Trimper , Community Library Services Coordinator for the Annapolis Valley Regional Library. Denice Corey (L.), and Karen MacNeill (R.) The Emile Theriault Library and Information Technology Award, established in 2006, recognizes the efforts of a library support staff member who has made a major contribution to their library community. The award was given to Karen MacNeill from the Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library. Two student awards were also presented. NSCC graduate  Joshua...

Greetings, NSLA! Jessica and I are new members to this group, and are very pleased to have joined you! We are both librarians based in Halifax Public Libraries and are tackling a project for NSLA this fall: a booth at Hal-Con! If you are not familiar with Hal-Con, this is an annual Haligonian event in October, which celebrates geek culture in Atlantic Canada and beyond. This year, the event runs from Friday October 25th to 27th. On behalf of NSLA, a booth has been arranged where we will present our libraries’ many amazing opportunities. While Jessica and I will be on hand over the entire weekend, we will need volunteers to assist us. Saturday is the biggest concern, with Sunday in second place.  Do you think you might be able to share time with us?  Even an hour to cover a lunch or two would be fantastic! We will have 4 or 5 volunteer passes to share, though if you want to wander the convention, you will still need to purchase a pass of your own. If anyone intends to be there and could...

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 emer...

If you want to go to Hal-Con, and represent libraries, here’s your chance! We’re looking for an NSLA Organizational Member (OM) for Hal-Con The OM will receive, from NSLA: 1 Vendor badge for Hal-Con (4 badges total with 2 tables) 3 night stay at Cambridge Suites Hotel (includes parking and breakfast) Hotel dates: October 24, 25, 26 (booked) Up to $100 for travel expenses   Duties: (A full checklist and duty sheet will be provided to the OM) Check with all NSLA members and regional libraries to see if they would like to send volunteer representatives. Volunteers must be members of NSLA. Institutional members may send up to 2 staff as volunteers. Be at Hal-Con for set-up and closure of the tables. Create a volunteer schedule Coordinate what will be featured on the library tables Coordinate the pass handovers that must take place outside the building. Coordinate contact information for volunteers Create content for the NSLA social media and blog (Tweets, Facebook Posts, a...

We all know someone in the Nova Scotia library community who goes above and beyond.  Someone who should be recognized for the contributions they make.  Now you can give them the recognition they deserve by nominating them for one of NSLA’s 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. The Emile Theriault Library and Information Technology Award, established in 2006, recognizes the efforts of a library support staff member, who has made a major contribution to their library community.  Emile Theriault was the first library support staff worker who served as president of NSLA. For more inf...

As Nova Scotia becomes more culturally diverse, we all need to learn how to welcome and work with immigrants and diverse populations to build better communities together. Presented by ISANS (Immigrant Association of Nova Scotia), this workshop will:    *   Increase understanding of settlement and integration issues    *   Explore ways to welcome and support new immigrants    *   Develop intercultural relationship building skills for working with new immigrants ISANS is the largest immigrant-serving agency in Atlantic Canada with over 270 staff members from more than 64 countries, who works towards helping immigrants build a future in Nova Scotia, and helping Nova Scotians build welcoming spaces and communities. Maximum Participants: 25 Dates: Monday, May 6 / 10am-2pm — Windsor Public Library Monday, May 13 / 10am-2pm — Antigonish Public Library Cost: $5 for NSLA Members, or $30 for non-members. New members are welcome. A light lunch will be provided. For more information, ...

South Shore Public Libraries is pleased to be hosting the NSLA-LBANS Annual Conference this year.  The theme for this year’s conference is Palaces for the People – Empowering Communities. The SSPL Planning Committee, with support from the Nova Scotia Library Association (NSLA) and the Library Boards Association of Nova Scotia (NSLA), is accepting proposals for the 2019 Library Conference. The Conference takes place in Liverpool, at White Point Beach Resort, October 18-20, 2019. The Program Committee is striving to provide a range of programs that will appeal to all participants. We encourage proposals from public, academic, school, and special libraries of all sizes, as well as other organizations that are creatively broadening library services in our communities. Proposals from trustees for sessions that provide education and training for Library Board members are also welcome. This year we are accepting proposals for 45-minute sessions and half day preconference sessions or wor...

NSLA organizes and presents two spring PD workshops every year for members and those interested in professional development opportunities. The dates range from the end of April to early June, and are typically held in two locations: Antigonish/New Glasgow (to reach the eastern half of the province) and Bridgewater/Windsor/Wolfville (to reach the western half of the province.) The NSLA Professional Development Committee would like to hear your IDEAS, for PD workshops you would like to see delivered this Spring! Submit your Ideas, and/or names for potential workshop convenors to the NSLA Professional Development Convenor: Ray Fernandes – ray.fernandes@novascotia.ca Past Workshops include: Summer Learning/Programming – Youth Services Safety in a Public Workplace Libraries 150: Tips for Readers’ Advisory & Public Engagement Storytelling The Art of Puppetry For current PD opportunities, you can access the Education Institute .  Your NSLA membership gives you a discount. You’ll need to c...

The Nova Scotia Library Association (NSLA) announced their professional awards at their annual conference on September 29 at the Rodd Grand Hotel and Conference Centre in Yarmouth. The NSLA’s Norman Horrocks Award for Library Leadership recognizes library leadership in the Nova Scotia library community and is given in recognition of distinguished contributions of lasting significance to the promotion and development of library service in Nova Scotia. The award was presented to Laura Emery, CEO/Chief Librarian for Eastern Counties Regional Library. The award was given to Laura in recognition of her library leadership not only in the Eastern Counties Regional Library, but in the Nova Scotia-wide library community as well. The award particularly recognized Laura’s idea for and incomparable contribution to the creation, development and promotion of Nova Scotian authors and books in the 2017 library project, Reading Nova Scotia: 150 Books of Influence. Another Eastern Counties staff was rec...

Peace by Chocolate’s Tareq Hadhad will be the Keynote at the 2018 NSLA/LBANS “Be Bold” Conference in Yarmouth, N.S. from Sept. 28 to 30. In 2012, the Hadhads’ home and factory that housed the family chocolate-making business were destroyed which forced them to seek safety in other countries. “Mr. Hadhad will share his inspiring story of a family escaping the war in Syria, coming to Canada, and re-establishing a successful family business in Antigonish, Nova Scotia,” says co-chair Erin Comeau. “Tareq’s participation is a welcome addition to the program and his story is sure to motivate audience members to accept new challenges, be creative, and embrace change.” Hadhad was a Syrian refugee, longtime peacekeeping advocate and is now living his new life with his entrepreneurial family in Canada. He is the founder of Peace by Chocolate and a medical researcher and is passionate about peace and entrepreneurship. Peace by Chocolate started with a humble beginning, turning out chocolates from ...

We held two workshops featuring Summer Reading, on May 7 and May 14. Lots of great ideas came from those workshops, and people wanted links to ideas. So here goes – we’ve tried to capture as many of the program ideas as possible.   The ideas below have been tried by NS libraries and have been successful; the blog posts will give you the how-to! Drive-in Movie for preschoolers (use NFB movies, perhaps) Teddy Bear Sleepover See Cape Breton’s most recent Sleepover ! Many regions have tried it — Family Fort Night Rachel Crosby shared a fun and easy slingshot rocket craft Preschool Obstacle Course Puppet stories and more from Beyond the Book Storytime Ulnooweg Robotics programs Cupcake Wars (with Teens):   Use magnetic marbles for painting – roll around in box with magnet underneath More ideas: Parking Lot Party: Outdoors, games, StoryWalk, Be Fit Kits Table-sized colouring sheets – have been found at Michael’s and Dollar Store Drop-in Daily Crafts: easy, passive ideas like re...

Forget the cold! Time to think about Summer! The NSLA Spring workshops are all about the Summer Reading Club (SRC). Five regions are participating in a two-year SRC Pilot project that will be doing outcomes measurement and research around participation in SRC and school reading scores. Summer Reading is in the forefront in Nova Scotia.   And before those of you who are not youth services librarians stop reading, think about why you should attend.  Directors and managers:   Arguably, Summer Reading is the biggest and most visible program your library does. This workshop is for you if you want to be in on the excitement. Library students:   It is free to join NSLA, and you can come to the workshop for only $5 if you are a member! If you are planning to work in public libraries, or with reading programs, this will give you a good base in understanding what the SRC is all about. Front Line Staff: Gain a full understanding of Summer Reading, get excited about all those people who will be ...

Hello NSLA Members.   On March 2nd, 2018, I had the great fortune to present Colin Fraser, Member of Parliament – West Nova, with a copy of the 150 Books of Influence.   He was so impressed with the book that he asked me to provide him with enough copies for every Nova Scotia Member of Parliament…which I happily did.   Here is a copy of the letter that accompanied the book, which Mr. Fraser has given me permission to share with you! Enjoy… Click on the image to view the PDF .