Annapolis Valley Regional Library

Annapolis Valley Regional Library (AVRL) is a public library system based in Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada. It serves a population of just over 101,000 in Annapolis County, Kings County and the district of West Hants with eleven branch libraries. Established in 1949, Annapolis Valley Regional Library was the first regional library system in Nova Scotia.

Annapolis Valley Regional Library
Location	Annapolis County, Kings County and the district of West Hants, Nova Scotia, Canada
Established	1949
Branches	11 (2014)
Collection
Size	190,143 (2015)
Access and use
Circulation	619,220 (2014)
Population served	101,000 (2014)
Other information
Website	http://www.valleylibrary.ca/

History

In 1937, the Government of Nova Scotia passed an Act to Provide for the Support of Regional Libraries and a survey was undertaken asking residents if they needed a public library in their community. The recommendation was made to implement regional library service. The Second World War stalled plans for library service, but after the war in 1947-1948 the survey was updated and work began on the long-awaited project to establish a regional library in the Annapolis Valley.

In May 1949, three branches were opened in Annapolis County — Annapolis Royal, Bridgetown, and Lawrencetown. Middleton opened a branch in September 1949, and then the Windsor and Wolfville branches opened in November 1949. In 1951 the Berwick branch was set up followed in 1954 by Kentville, Hantsport in 1957, Port Williams in 1958, and the Kingston branch in 1972.

Governance

Annapolis Valley Regional Library is governed by a Board of Directors. It is composed of appointed members from each of the eleven municipal units served by the region and two representatives appointed by the Province of Nova Scotia.

Services

Annapolis Valley Regional Library offers:

• Collection of 190, 143 items including books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, etc.
• Downloadable eBooks and audiobooks
• Free Public Internet access and wireless internet access
• Borrow by Mail outreach service
• Programs for kids, teens and adults

Branches

The Wolfville Memorial Library, housed in a former station of the Dominion Atlantic Railway

Name	Area	Opened	Coordinates
Annapolis Royal Library	Annapolis Royal	1994	44.743068°N 65.519574°W / 44.743068; -65.519574 (Annapolis Royal Library)
Berwick Library	Berwick	1993	45.046680°N 64.735893°W / 45.046680; -64.735893 (Berwick Library)
Bridgetown & Area Library	Bridgetown	2011	44.839933°N 65.290947°W / 44.839933; -65.290947 (Bridgetown & Area Library)
Isabel & Roy Jodrey Memorial Library	Hantsport	2015	45.065410°N 64.179694°W / 45.065410; -64.179694 (Isabel & Roy Jodrey Memorial Library)
Kentville Library	Kentville	1987	45.076905°N 64.497454°W / 45.076905; -64.497454 (Kentville Library)
Kingston Library	Kingston	1996	44.988580°N 64.946932°W / 44.988580; -64.946932 (Kingston Library)
Dr. Frank W. Morse Memorial Library	Lawrencetown	2002	44.882901°N 65.158568°W / 44.882901; -65.158568 (Dr. Frank W. Morse Memorial Library)
Rosa M. Harvey Middleton & Area Library	Middleton	2003	44.943872°N 65.073381°W / 44.943872; -65.073381 (Rosa M. Harvey Middleton & Area Library)
Murdoch C. Smith Memorial Library	Port Williams	1958	45.098667°N 64.411048°W / 45.098667; -64.411048 (Murdoch C. Smith Memorial Library)
Windsor Regional Library	Windsor	2004	44.991305°N 64.137834°W / 44.991305; -64.137834 (Windsor Regional Library)
Wolfville Memorial Library	Wolfville	1993	45.092655°N 64.363460°W / 45.092655; -64.363460 (Wolfville Memorial Library)