Friends of the Annapolis Royal Library

If it is important to you, please keep reaching out to your local MLAs requesting updates.

We love seeing others sharing and giving away books! Our friends at the The Red Onion Market have had a free cookbook shelf at their shop for the past few months! Feel free to browse their display! Such a wonderful idea. 🧑‍🍳👩‍🍳🥘📕📚

Come on down to Fort Anne today (Sat, July 4) for all the Annapolis Royal Pride children/families' activities. Special mention to the DRAG READING WITH Queera Bang at 11am, sponsored by yours truly, Friends of the Annapolis Royal Library. We will also have a volunteer or two on site handing out some gently used children's books from our sale collection. :)

Bring the Whole Family for Pride Fun at Fort Anne! 🌈
Gather up the kiddos and join us for a morning packed with laughter, creativity, and community connection.

📅 Event Details
When: Saturday, July 4th, 2026

Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Where: Fort Anne National Historic Site (323 St. George St.)

Admission: Completely FREE!

🎨 What’s Happening:
*🏃‍♂️ Field Games – Energy burners for all ages!
*🎨 Face Painting & Rock Painting – Show off your bright colors.
*💖 Kindness Banner Making – Help us build a massive community art piece.
*📚 Free Books! – Grab a wonderful story to take home, generously provided by the Friends of the Annapolis Royal Library.

⭐ SPECIAL EVENT at 11:00 AM: Don't miss a magical, joyful Drag Reading with Queera Bang right on the beautiful grounds of Fort Anne!

Bring your energy, your sunscreen, and your smiles. Let’s celebrate who we are and all we shine! ☀️

Hope you can join us next week to give Sandie a wonderful send-off!

Happy Grade 5 Graduation next week to students at Clark Rutherford Memorial School and Champlain Elementary School! We think the best thing about moving over to Annapolis West Education Centre is the proximity to the Annapolis Royal branch of the Annapolis Valley Regional Library. We hope to see these students visiting our library! Here are some books we’ve purchased as a graduation gift accompanied by lots of information about our library. One book per student. 🙂 We hope they have a great summer full of reading. ❤️ All books purchased locally at Baintons Tannery Outlet / Mad Hatter Bookstore in Annapolis Royal!

Libraries reopen today.

As of Monday, June 15th, regular service is resuming at all 11 AVRL branches. Please check the AVRL website to confirm the open hours at each location. https://valleylibrary.ca/branches/

We thank you for your continued patience and support during this time. While these changes are difficult, the AVRL remains committed to continuing library service across the region and supporting our communities through this transition.

If you have concerns about the upcoming permanent branch closures and service reductions and their impact on your or your community, please reach out to your local MLA and the Ministry of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage.

For more information, please visit our website: https://valleylibrary.ca/news/service_changes/

Great answers to important questions regarding the closure. Please read so you can help share the facts with your community.

It’s a fact. Without the generous Evans Bequest, the Annapolis Royal library would have been among the closures. We are thankful for this gift from Mr Donald Evans. ❤️

Branch Closures FAQ - Annapolis Valley Regional Library Why are five branches closing?

Sharing the news today from Annapolis Valley Regional Library.

We encourage you to reach out to your elected officials - especially those in the provincial government - to share how this affects you, your family, your community.

Inflation has increased 43% since 2009 and funding as only increased 10%.

FROM THE AVRL:

2026 Library Service Changes Announcement
Updated June 1, 2026

Due to the lack of sustainable operating funding, the AVRL is no longer able to maintain its present level of service. Maintaining all 11 library branches is not financially sustainable under the current funding model, and significant changes will be required across the region.

Effective July 20, 2026, the following five AVRL branches will close:

Hantsport
Kentville
Lawrencetown
Middleton
Port Williams

In order to complete the restructuring process and support staff through this transition, all AVRL locations will be closed from June 1–14, 2026. Regular service at all locations will resume on June 15, 2026, and continue until the effective closure date of July 20, 2026.

Beginning July 20, 2026, the following six AVRL locations will remain open with new standardized hours:

Windsor
Wolfville
Berwick
Kingston
Bridgetown
Annapolis Royal

The AVRL is facing a structural funding deficit that cannot be resolved through incremental efficiencies alone. The AVRL has now received confirmation that there will be no increase to Provincial library funding for 2026–27, with funding remaining at 2020–2025 levels.

Over the past several months, AVRL made separate requests to each of its eight partnering municipalities for increased funding contributions. All eight municipalities committed additional funding for 2026–27, and the AVRL is deeply grateful for their continued support and commitment to library service in their communities.

However, without sustainable increases to the Provincial Library Funding Formula — and without Provincial Bridge funding in 2026–27 — these municipal contributions alone are not enough to prevent significant service reductions and impacts across the region.

While the decision is deeply difficult, the long-term goal is to protect the Library’s ability to continue serving the region by focusing resources on a sustainable library system that can support literacy, learning, digital access, and community connection into the future.

The AVRL recognizes the deep connection between public libraries and the communities they serve. Our branches are supported by residents, community groups, donors, and municipal partners who value library service as an essential part of community life. While these changes are difficult, the AVRL remains committed to continuing library service across the region and supporting our communities through this transition. We also extend our sincere gratitude to our partnering municipalities for their ongoing support and longstanding commitment to public libraries and the people who rely on them.

We encourage residents to continue reaching out to their elected representatives to share their perspectives on the importance of sustainable public library funding in our region.

Source: https://valleylibrary.ca/news/service_changes/