The Library Needs a New Home and Here's Why ...
The Hantsport Public Library must be out of the Hantsport School by August 2015.
The Hantsport School is undergoing renovations. In planning these renovations the
Annapolis Valley Regional School Board let the Town know that, should the Town
continue to have its Library in the school it will have to cover the $170,000 cost of
the renovations to accommodate it and contribute to the yearly maintenance of
the space.
In July of 2013 the Hantsport Town Council unanimously voted “No” to that
proposal because of costs and continuing service restrictions imposed by a shared
facility. Town council then formed a Library Advisory Committee (LAC) to recommend
next steps.
On October 7, 2013 the LAC had its first meeting. Represented on the committee were Hantsport’s Town Council, the
Municipal Councils of West Hants and Kings County, Glooscap First Nation, the Friends of the Hantsport Public Library (FHPL),
the Annapolis Valley Regional Library (AVRL) and the citizenry of Hantsport.
The LAC looked at all possible options and recommended that the most desirable option, structurally and financially,
was to renovate the Town-owned Royal Canadian Legion building at 10 Main Street. The LAC would like to house the
HPL in the large open space of the upper level of the Legion building. After much research and consulting, the LAC
estimates that the renovations will cost approximately $175,000. This cost will cover changes to satisfy the building
codes, the requirements of the AVRL and to make the building wheelchair accessible.
On April 1st the Town Council passed a motion to support the proposal to renovate the Legion to house the Library
with the stipulation that the money must be raised prior to starting the renovation.
The Save Hantsport Public Library (SHPL) fundraising group was formed as a sub-committee of the LAC. The SHPL are
volunteers from the community determined to raise the necessary dollars to renovate the Legion and save the
Hantsport Public Library.
Contributions to these renovation costs will be sought from our municipal partners, corporate and individual sponsors
and library supporters from near and far. The SHPL Committee have planned a multitude of ways that Hantsport and
Area residents can support this funding effort and thank you for being a part of this community effort.
Let’s Save the Library!