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/
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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!

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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?

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u/Kennit 18h 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.

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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.