Base library closure in the rumour mill

BY NANCY KELLY

Kings County Register



Since she heard the first rumblings the Greenwood Library might close, library volunteer Elizabeth Tappen has focused on taking action to ensure that rumour does not become reality.

Shortly after the new year, Tappen learned impending closure of the library was reported by 14 Wing administrative staff at a meeting of the Central Annapolis Valley Chamber of Commerce.

“I heard about the meeting from a couple of different sources, but when I started to ask questions, I couldn’t get any straight answers,” said Tappen, who has been volunteering at the library since 2001.

Operation of the library falls to Fred Williams, 14 Wing’s recreation director. When contacted by this newspaper about the closure discussion at the chamber meeting, he admitted to being shocked.

“I knew absolutely nothing about it - I think someone was speaking out of turn. To my knowledge, nothing of the sort is happening.”

Tappen also brought her concerns to Williams and other 14 Wing personnel. Her inability to get a committment, one way or the other, did not reassure her.

“All I want is to know is whether it’s going to close or not. Because if it is, then I want to ensure that we have a plan B so we don’t lose this wonderful resource entirely.”

Tappen, who refers to herself as a “self-proclaimed book-aholic,” says the library houses an invaluable military history section and impressive children’s and French language sections in a collection of over 30,000 books. She is aware the facility has on-going funding issues that may be contributing to the closure rumours.

“A library is not a money maker and it has been on shaky ground for some time now.”

She notes in the past few years, both library operation and staff hours have been cut back.

Williams points to the fact the Greenwood Library is not funded by the provincial library system as a contributor to its financial challenges.

“Right now, the Kingston Library gets the system funding, so we have to go it alone.”

He adds buying books and maintaining a building and computer system for public use is costly.

Calls to 14 Wing’s Public Affairs Office were answered by Captain J.P. Turcotte, who explained the library building is being considered as a potential site for a dependent health care clinic. Turcotte said the rumours about library closure more than likely stemmed from this discussion, and said financial concerns have nothing to do with the current situation.

“This is not about money, but rather about establishing a healthcare clinic on the base. It’s been an ongoing project and, as part of the discussion, we have been trying to identify suitable locations. The library building was on the list.”

Turcotte said the move to develop a base healthcare clinic is a joint venture between the Wing, the Village of Greenwood and Kings County municipality.

“A high number of people in the area do not have a family doctor, so establishing some sort of clinic facility would be important. But that being said, space on the base is limited and our challenge is to add a service without taking away something else.”

While he says “out of list of several possible sites, the library is not the top contender - not even close to the top,” Turcotte can’t guarantee anything. If it were to be considered, then he says plans would be made to move the facility. If and when that should happen, the public would be consulted.

“It’s just too premature at this point to engage the public in the discussion because no decisions have been made.”

Tappen hopes, if and when a decision is made that affects the library, there will be time for library users and volunteers to be part of any closure or relocation process.

“Right now we don’t have a ‘Friends of the Library’ group per say, but we want to ensure that our voice is heard. It’s a shame when any library closes and I think 14 Wing Greenwood underestimates how important the library is to our community.”