Governance challenges force 3-month closure of libraries across The Nation, Ont.

Rows of library books at a public library in this file image.

Library branches in St-Albert, Limoges and St-Isidore are set to close temporarily for three months starting on Jan. 1, 2025, The Nation says, citing governance challenges at the board level.

The municipal council decided to close the branches between Jan. 1 and March 31.

The factors leading up to the decisions are the resignation of the Library Board Chair and other members, and the upcoming retirement of the long-serving Library Chief Executive Officer, leaving the library without the necessary leadership to operate under the Public Libraries Act, according to the municipality.

While the board does not have a succession plan in place, the municipality says, “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.”

“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,” Mayor Francis Brière said.

“This pause will allow us to reestablish a strong board and build a sustainable future for our library services.”

A recruitment campaign will be launched during the temporary closure to hire new board members. The municipality adds that it will also explore newer avenues to develop governance models that align with the needs of residents and offer improved delivery services, such as partnerships with other library boards.

Residents can still access library services by visiting libraries at neighboring cities, reads the release.

“The Nation Municipality will reimburse membership fees incurred for these services, with further details about the reimbursement process to follow,” reads the release.

“The municipality’s administration is committed to making this transition as seamless as possible, ensuring residents retain access to library resources.”

The Nation Municipality has three library branches: Limoges, St-Albert, and St-Isidore, offering free memberships to residents. The cost of those services is “funded through taxpayer dollars, with a proposed allocation of approximately $650,000 for the 2025 operating budget.” The proposed budget supported the following hours for each branch:

• Limoges Branch: 23 hours per week

• St-Albert Branch: 22 hours per week

• St-Isidore Branch: 28 hours per week

The budget has been reduced significantly by the council until a new library board is recruited, reads the release.

CTV News Ottawa has reached out to municipal officials asking about the reason behind the resignations.