The Honourable Tim Houston
Premier of Nova Scotia
PO Box 726
Halifax NS B3J 2T3
Subject: Protecting Nova Scotia Libraries
Dear Premier Houston:
On behalf of the Confederation of Canadian Unions (CCU), I am writing to express our opposition to the continued erosion of public library funding in Nova Scotia. While funding levels may appear unchanged on paper, flat funding in the face of inflation and rising service demands amounts to a real cut—one that library boards can no longer absorb without impacting services.
At a time when communities are facing economic uncertainty, rising living costs, and increasing social pressures, reducing support for one of the most trusted and accessible public institutions is deeply concerning. Libraries are not a luxury. They are a vital public service that thousands of Nova Scotians rely on every day.
Libraries are far more than places that lend books. They are community anchors staffed by highly skilled librarians and library workers who deliver essential services that support education, employment, digital literacy, and social inclusion. Every day, librarians help job seekers prepare résumés and search for work. They assist seniors and newcomers navigating increasingly complex online government services. They provide literacy programs for children, safe after-school spaces for youth, and community programming that connects people who might otherwise be isolated.
In many communities, libraries are among the last truly accessible public spaces where everyone is welcome regardless of income or background. For people without reliable internet, quiet study space, or access to social services, the library is often the first and only place they can turn. Librarians routinely help individuals file taxes, access benefits, learn digital skills, and connect with community supports. These are not incidental services. They are essential supports that strengthen the social and economic foundation of communities across Nova Scotia.
Library workers have already been doing more with less for years. Like many public sector workers, they have stretched limited budgets and resources as far as possible while continuing to provide exceptional service to the public. Their professionalism and commitment are the reason libraries consistently rank among the most valued and trusted public institutions in Canada.
Further cuts will have real and immediate consequences. Reduced hours, fewer programs, staffing shortages, and the loss of services will directly impact the very people who rely on libraries the most: students, seniors, low-income families, and newcomers. When library services are weakened, the needs they address do not disappear—they are simply pushed onto other already strained public and community systems.
Investing in libraries is an investment in the future of Nova Scotia. Libraries strengthen literacy, support workforce development, expand access to information, and foster civic participation. They help people build the knowledge and skills needed to participate fully in society and the economy.
Put simply, when governments invest in libraries, they invest in opportunity, resilience, and stronger communities.
For these reasons, we urge your government to reverse these cuts and commit to stable, sustainable funding that reflects the essential role libraries and library workers play in communities across the province. Nova Scotians deserve public institutions that are strengthened and supported—not gradually weakened through chronic underfunding.
We strongly encourage your government to reconsider its approach and ensure that Nova Scotia’s libraries receive the funding and support necessary to continue serving the public effectively.
Sincerely,
Shawn Campbell
President, Confederation of Canadian Unions (CCU)
president@ccu-csc.ca
ccu-csc.ca
Jan Noster
Executive Director, Confederation of Canadian Unions (CCU)
executive.director@ccu-csc.ca
ccu-csc.ca
CC: Christina Covert, President, Nova Scotia Union of Public and Private Employees (NSUPE)
CC: Dave Ritcey, Nova Scotia Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
