Connecting your food to the farmer: Support local producers

Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley is bustling with farmers' markets again this summer.  These markets have become community meeting places where you can support local producers, artisans and musicians.  You will find soap, flowers, vegetables, meats, baked goods, preserves, jewelry, pottery, handmade crafts, photography, maple syrup, live music, and much more at your local market. Get to know your local farmers and producers and support them. Local food tastes better and is better for you. Buying local builds community, preserves open spaces, benefits the environment, supports local families, and is an investment in the future. It is incredible to immerse yourself in the farmers' market culture, and to learn about the valuable talent and expertise we have in the Annapolis Valley. For more information on Nova Scotia’s Farmers' Markets, visit THIS website.

The Annapolis Valley Regional Library Bookmobile will be at the Annapolis Royal Farmers' and Traders Market on Saturday July 12, 2014. The Bookmobile will also be at the Windsor Farmers' Market on Saturday, July 26,  Wolfville Farmers' Market on Saturday, August 9, and the North Mountain United Tapestry in Harbourville on Saturday, August 23. We are looking forward to meeting you!

                                                   Wendy Kearnes, Outreach Services Manager

Not your Grandmother's Bookmobile...

  There's a cool, new, red-hot vehicle travelling Valley roads this
September.  The Annapolis Valley Regional Library recently purchased a new
bookmobile to serve rural residents.  Cool and bookmobile are not two words
you usually see together, but we think the next generation bookmobile is pretty
awesome looking.

  Sprinter vans are high enough that people can stand up inside them and
come in various sizes.  It's the same kind of large van used by FedEx. With
Blue Efficiency technology this vehicle will provide a much more economical
way for the regional library to provide outreach services to its rural
residents.

  Scotia Emergency Vehicle Systems customized the interior of the van
complete with removable book carts, a checkout desk, and an awning for
storytimes.  The flexibility of the new vehicle allows the library to serve
a variety of users with one vehicle.  Previously a bookmobile bus was used
for community stops and a van was used to deliver to institutions and
satellite sites.

  Designed with bold graphics and the tagline Driven to Read, the new
bookmobile is sure to be a head-turner and will serve as a marketing tool
for the library as well.  The public will start seeing it on the road when
service to community stops, satellite sites, schools and institutions
begins on September 17.

--Wendy Kearnes, Outreach Services Manager

New Library Service Beginning this Fall!

 The Annapolis Valley Regional Library is proud to announce an exciting new service for our rural patrons beginning this fall.  Three satellite library sites will be set up in hub locations across the Valley as a pilot project.  These sites are in Summerville, Springfield, and Bear River.

The satellite library sites will be open to the public for four hours every three weeks, afternoon and early evening, increasing the convenience of library access to remote communities not served by a branch library.  Patrons can pick up books they have requested, return items, and browse for great books to read and movies to watch.

Library patrons can search our online catalogue of over 200,000 items to request materials.  Or call our toll free number 1-866-922-0229 ext. 234 and we'll be happy to help you with your reading needs!

So bring your library card and come meet with the staff of the Outreach Services Department at the Springfield Baptist Church on these Mondays from 3:00 – 7:00 PM:  Sept. 17, Oct. 9, Oct. 29, Nov. 19 and Dec. 10. Or try the Oakdene Center in Bear River on these Tuesdays from 3:00 – 7:00 PM: Oct. 2, Oct. 23, Nov. 13 and Dec. 4. In West Hants County the satellite site will be in the Avon Emporium in Summerville on these Tuesdays from 2:00 – 6:00 PM: Sept. 25, Oct. 16, Nov. 6, Nov. 27 and Dec. 18. Click here for more information.

Wendy Kearnes – Outreach Services Manager

Books By Mail: Bringing the Library to you

Do you live further than 10 kilometers from one of our library branches? Are you physically unable to get to a library? Perhaps you are taking care of a loved one and cannot visit a library. The Annapolis Valley Regional Library has developed a service for you.

Books By Mail is a FREE library outreach service provided for residents of the Annapolis Valley who meet these criteria. You can select books from our booklists or online catalogue. The booklists are in print form and can be mailed to you. You may prefer our staff of the Outreach Services Department help you determine what suits your reading needs. A wide variety of books in many categories are available. (Due to postage costs this service does not include audio books or movies.)

The books will be mailed to you return postage paid! Specially designed reusable zip-up bags are used for the mailings. The size of the book and how it relates to your mailbox size is a factor to be considered. How many items can be mailed to you at one time will depend on the size of your mailbox and method of picking up your mail. There is no limit on the number of items you may borrow, providing no other books are overdue. 

We allow 4 weeks from the time of mailing out until the item is due back at the library. That should allow you 3 weeks for the actual use of the item. Items may be renewed if there is no waiting list. You will receive notices if items become overdue, but there will be NO FINES charged. You cannot borrow additional books if there are overdue items.

Your library card is valid at any of our service points including branch libraries, the Bookmobile and Books By Mail. Items signed out via a branch or the Bookmobile may have a different loan period and incur fines if the materials become overdue. If you or someone you know could benefit from this service, contact Outreach Services staff at 1-866-922-0229 ext.234. To register online click here.

Wendy Kearnes

Outreach Services Manager

Mobile Library Service

Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley is a beautiful spot. There are apple orchards, rocky inlets and beaches, mud flats, fishing and farming communities, and the North and South mountains. The people who call this area home are as diverse as the geography. Most of the rural communities are well off the beaten path and their strength is due to the residents. 

The Annapolis Valley Regional Library Bookmobile is proud to bring library service to many rural communities. The Bookmobile serves 34 community stops in West Hants, Kings and Annapolis Counties during a three week schedule year round. An example of some of the isolated communities we serve are Summerville and Cheverie (District of West Hants), Springfield and East Dalhousie (Kings County), and Maitland Bridge to Bear River (Annapolis County). The Bookmobile averages 21, 896 kilometres annually with a monthly circulation of 2,266 items. Mobile library service began in 1949 in our region. There are many wonderful stories over the years about patrons arriving to the Bookmobile by tractor, bicycle, four wheeler and even snowmobile, or with a sled, or a wheelbarrow! The community stops which we serve have become community gathering spots, and the Bookmobile has become a lifeline to the communities. Neighbors gather on the Bookmobile to catch up, and to stock up on books, DVDs, magazines, audio books and more. This winter snowshoes were made available for patrons to borrow through a partnership with Annapolis County Recreation. We like the idea of the library providing exercise for the mind and body.

Bookmobile Celebration Tours have been held with some schools. During these events, each class is invited onboard the Bookmobile. Our staff offer interesting informational sessions and share the magic of a mobile branch, followed by a wonderful storytime! It is rewarding to see the children’s faces light up when the Bookmobile travels through their community, and when they bring their families to our community stops. Also for parents who have memories of visiting the Bookmobile as children, to share the wonder of the experience with their children. We eagerly anticipate invitations to be included in community events, and participate in parades and festivals. Click here for a printable invitation to your community event.

Joining the library is FREE! The next time you see the Bookmobile parked in your community – stop by and say hello! We are looking forward to meeting you! Our staff members can register you for a library card and help you meet your reading needs. Click here for a calendar of scheduled stops.

The Bookmobile may be closer than you think.

The Bookmobile is one of the services offered by the Outreach Services Department with the Annapolis Valley Regional Library. Other services include Books By Mail and Van Delivery of book deposits to schools, day cares, institutions and residential facilities. More on these services in the next few weeks!