Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library may reduce hours due to funding shortage

The chief librarian at the Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library doesn't want to close one extra day a week, but it just might come to that.

Eric Stackhouse says library funding has been frozen for six years. He's heard rumours that the provincial government's April budget won't have any new money for provincial libraries.

This will impact everything from book buying, to services and staffing.

"Over the past six years we've lost three full-time positions due to attrition," Stackhouse told CBC News. "The book budgets are too low. Literacy programs are cut. Cutting staff is the only place left to recover costs."

Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library is a collection of seven library branches, two rural access sites and a virtual library. 

The Nova Scotia provincial budget is expected to be released on April 19.

'A disconnect' for funding

In larger cities like Halifax, the city pays for roughly two-thirds of the library costs and the province one-third. Outside of Halifax the ratio is flipped. The province pays approximately 71 per cent, the municipality funds some and the board fundraises the rest. 

Despite the shortfall, the need for libraries being used as community hubs is as acute as ever.

"There's a disconnect between providing new buildings and then not funding the programs or staff that run them," he said. 

Stackhouse has been part of three task forces in the past 16 years that produced reports about library funding and he says nothing was ever done with the recommendations. He says he keeps the government well aware of all the efficiencies and cost-cutting measures they've adopted. 

"I'm at a loss to solve the problem," Stackhouse said, noting the region has a shortfall of $50,000. 

"It's not much, but it makes a huge difference to us."