The Nation, ONTARIO – On Monday December 9th, 2024, The Nation Municipality’s Council made the difficult decision to temporarily close its library branches effective January 1, 2025, until March 31, 2025, due to governance challenges at the library board level.
This decision follows the resignation of the Library Board Chair and other members, along with the upcoming retirement of the long-serving Library Chief Executive Officer. The Library Board confirmed that no succession planning was in place, leaving the library without the necessary leadership required under the Public Libraries Act. It is the legal responsibility of the Library Board, not the municipal council, to oversee the library’s operations, including budget management, staffing, and long-term planning.
During this pause, we will launch a recruitment campaign to attract new community members to join the library board, enabling us to resume operations as soon as possible. At the same time, we will explore partnerships with neighboring library boards to improve service delivery. These efforts aim to develop governance models that better align with the needs and expectations of our residents.
Mayor Francis Brière acknowledged the challenges of this situation while emphasizing the need for accountability:
“We understand that libraries are an important service for our residents, and we regret the temporary disruption this closure will cause. However, as a municipal council, we have a duty to ensure that taxpayer dollars are managed responsibly and that the necessary governance structures are in place. This pause will allow us to reestablish a strong board and build a sustainable future for our library services.”
In the meantime, residents can continue accessing library services through neighboring municipalities, which offer extended hours and additional options. The Nation Municipality will reimburse membership fees incurred for these services, with further details about the reimbursement process to follow. The municipality’s administration is committed to making this transition as seamless as possible, ensuring residents retain access to library resources.
Regular updates will be shared through The Nation Municipality’s website and social media channels to keep the community informed. Residents are encouraged to reach out with questions or concerns using the contact information below. Details for those interested in joining the library board will be shared in the near future.
We thank the community and library staff for their patience and understanding as we take these necessary steps to secure a stronger future for our libraries.
ABOUT OUR LIBRARIES
Our municipality is home to three library branches: Limoges, St-Albert, and St-Isidore. These branches offer free memberships to residents, providing access to a wide range of books, programming and resources.
The cost of library services is funded through taxpayer dollars, with a proposed allocation of approximately $650,000 for the 2025 operating budget. Council has significantly reduced this amount until a new library board is established.
The proposed budget originally supported the following public service hours across our branches:
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Pierre Leroux
Chief Administrative Officer
admin@nationmun.ca