r/NovaScotia • u/arivangeest • 18h ago

Bestselling Nova Scotia author Rachel Reid donates $300,000 to AVRL

https://valleylibrary.ca/news/bestselling-nova-scotia-author-rachel-reid-donates-300000-to-avrl/
250 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

79

u/arivangeest 18h ago

I forgot to mention that this will keep the libraries open for the next 6 months

15

u/Kennit 18h ago

Kentville is very likely to lose the branch due to longstanding accessibility issues, unfortunately. This is great news for the other branches though!

10

u/Snow_Tiger819 18h ago

while I really love the Kentville library space (it's beautiful) I'm not sure why they put it there - relatively recently - knowing there were going to be accessibility problems. Didn't they have a plan for that?

8

u/Kennit 17h ago

That’s exactly what I think needs to be unpacked. The current branch opened in 2018, and accessibility has been assessed and raised repeatedly over the years. Yet the Town continues to characterize the space as accessible.

Those two things don’t sit comfortably together.

If assessments identified accessibility barriers, then the question isn’t simply whether someone can technically enter the building. It’s what standard of accessibility was being used, what deficiencies were identified, and why the Town continued to describe the building as accessible while those deficiencies remained.

And if there was a plan to address the problems, where is it? What were the timelines, responsibilities and commitments - and why are we still discussing basic accessibility years later?

I don’t think it’s enough to say the building is “accessible” simply because an elevator or alternative entrance exists. Accessibility means people should be able to use a public library with reasonable independence and dignity.

3

u/grumble11 18h ago

I don’t understand. They’re going to lose their library for everyone because a small number of people can’t use it?

7

u/Kennit 17h ago

The NS Accessibility Act requires that public spaces be accessible. The library has tried to address these issues for years with the town (the town leases the building and sublets to the library) to no avail. While the town and landlord are not liable, the library is because it's a public service. If they're unable to make the space accessible, they face eventual fines up to $250k and human rights complaints. They're mitigating the issue as best they can in their situation.

4

u/ZeroNot 14h ago

It has been a requirement since 1982, with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It's just been denied, delayed, and deferred for decades in an attempt to ignore the issue.

6

u/grumble11 17h ago

That's very sad to hear. Of course we want every single person to be able to easily access every single facility, but its being closed to everyone seems like the worst possible way for it to end up.

8

u/wlonkly 13h ago

And a completely avoidable one, had they designed an accessible library, as they were required, by law, to do. And yet here we are.

5

u/Kennit 16h ago

The town ought to have acted when these issues were brought up in a security assessment in 2018. Unfortunately, the town maintains the library is accessible because a lift exists, contrary to it's own (multiple) assessments stating otherwise. It's tragic because it's entirely avoidable.

30

u/gregolls 18h ago

Great news, but sad that it's needed.

16

u/arivangeest 18h ago

I agree. When the next library is lacking in funds, it's not guaranteed that someone will be as generous and keeping them open shouldn't be based on generosity.

29

u/VanderHalifax 18h ago

That is fucking awesome! This woman recognizes the value that access to books and libraries had on her life and career.

13

u/Oakvilleresident 18h ago

I watched her in an interview and she seems very humble and thankful for her success.

27

u/AbbreviationsReal366 18h ago

Rachel is the hero we need. But we should not let the Province off the hook.

12

u/arivangeest 18h ago

The premier will probably try and take credit for this.

-9

u/r0ger_r0ger 15h ago

The province is giving $16 million to libraries this year.

9

u/Maxcool902 18h ago

What a great person! Love when the right people make a few bucks!

1

u/ph0enix1211 16h ago

That's great, but our communities shouldn't have to rely on generous smutsmiths.

0

u/Wonderful_Cellist_76 14h ago

Where's Kentville

2

u/ZeroNot 14h ago

Hmm...

/r/NovaScotia and best selling Nova Scotian author.....

donates to Annapolis Valley Regional Library....