The Nation Municipality is continuing with plans to reform public library governance and reopen library branches in St-Isidore, Limoges, and St-Albert.
On December 9, 2024, council decided to close the library branches from January 1 to March 31, 2025, following the resignation of the Chair and other members of the library board. The former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the library also retired. That position has been vacant since December 30, 2024.
The municipality had previously stated the temporary closure was necessary due to there being no succession plan for further executive leadership of the library as required by the Public Libraries Act.
At the Monday, January 27 meeting of The Nation council, municipal Chief Administrative Officer Pierre Leroux presented what he described as a progress update on the transition. The Nation has contributed $1,500 to partner public library services in Champlain Township, Casselman, Clarence-Rockland, and the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry to support interim access for The Nation residents to libraries in those municipalities while The Nation’s branches are closed. Residents of The Nation choosing to access other library services can be reimbursed up to $60. Leroux said that as of January 27, no resident had requested a reimbursement.
The progress report indicated that the municipality has published notices, as required by the Public Libraries Act, requesting applications from citizens interested in serving on the library board. The deadline for applications was Friday, February 7. An information session for individuals interested in potentially becoming library board members was held on February 3. The municipality has also reached out to neighbouring library boards to gauge interest in a governance partnership model. Discussions are ongoing as per council’s direction to pursue both updating the library board and exploring alternative governance options. The newly appointed library board would be responsible for hiring a new CEO and developing updated policies.
“It’s a political appointment; it’s not a staff recommendation about who sits on the library board,” said Leroux, describing the appointment process.
He said council will have to choose which direction to take for governance and board composition.
Mayor Francis Brière said he has had conversations with people who are interested in serving on The Nation’s new library board.
“It’s nice to see, they’re highly qualified and very interested,” he said.
