Read local

Read Local is a new project that puts hundreds of Atlantic Canadian authored and published eBooks onto Nova Scotia library users’ devices. 

In partnership with members of the Atlantic Publishers Marketing Association (APMA), Nova Scotia’s public libraries will be able to provide users with a wider variety of locally written and published eBooks from the Atlantic region. 

Access to the Atlantic Canadian eBook Collection is specific to the library where you have your library card. 

In the province-wide collection, more local eBooks will be added to OverDrive for users across the province. (OverDrive is the online service used by Nova Scotia Public Libraries for downloadable eBooks.) 

The titles are a mixture of fiction and non-fiction, and cover a wide range of subjects.  Approximately 15 per cent of the collection is juvenile and young adult books.  A small number of French juvenile books are also available.

And under this agreement, around 80 titles will be loaded into NNELS this fall. (NNELS is the National Network for Equitable Library Service, a service for Canadians who have a perceptual disability as defined by the Canadian Copyright Act, and require digital or audio formats.)

The Read Local project is an initiative of the Nova Scotia Provincial Library and was funded by a grant from the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage, and in working with APMA for the past year, agreements have been signed with 12 Atlantic Canadian publishers to provide eBook access. 

Outside of Quebec, this is the first province-wide agreement of its kind between libraries and locally-based publishers. For more information about the project, please visit, www.library.novascotia.ca/readlocal.

Your free public library card is your key to unlocking local authors, information, history and publishers. Don’t have a library card?  Contact your local library to get started!

Another great reason to have a library card!

Did you know a library card can be used as acceptable piece of ID when voting in the upcoming federal election?  According to Elections Canada, there are three options to prove your identity and address when voting. 

First is to show one piece of ID such as a provincial driver’s license, your provincial or territorial ID card or any other government card with your photo, name and current address. 

Second option is to show two pieces of ID and at least one must have your current address such as - a birth certificate, health card, hospital card, old age security card, band membership card, debit or credit card, student card, utility bill, and a library card!

And the third option is if your ID does not have your current address, you can take an oath, show two pieces of ID with your name and have someone who knows you attest to your address. (This person must show proof of identity and address, be registered in the same polling division, and attest for only one person.)

For more information on upcoming library programs, special events and services, please drop by your local library branch, follow us on Twitter, find us on Facebook, or visit us online at www.parl.ns.ca.

Trecia Schell is the community services librarian, and branch librarian for Books-by-Mail, River John, Stellarton & Trenton Public Libraries.