News release

Library Return Box at the Farmers' Market

Communities, Culture and Heritage (Jan. 2011 - Aug. 2021)

People going to the Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market for farm-fresh food, baked goods and local arts and crafts will now be able to drop off their library items as well.

Leonard Preyra, Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage, today, July 10, joined members of Libraries Nova Scotia and representatives from the farmers' market to launch a library items drop box.

The drop box is part of the Borrow Anywhere, Return Anywhere program launched in 2009 by Libraries Nova Scotia, a collaboration of all public, college and university libraries in the province. The program allows library-card holders to borrow an item, book, DVD, magazine, at one library and return it to another

"This program is a perfect collaboration between the province, Libraries Nova Scotia and the community," said Mr. Preyra. "Library-card holders benefit from the convenience of being able to use this service at 100 participating libraries across the province; now Nova Scotians have another access point for dropping off their library items."

The box is at the north entrance of the market and was paid for by the department, through the Nova Scotia Provincial Library division and Novanet, a consortium of post-secondary libraries.

"Nova Scotia Academic Libraries are thrilled to be part of this initiative and look forward to partnering in similar ways in future," said Lynne Murphy, chair of Novanet and librarian at St. Francis Xavier University.

Visitors can use the box daily from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. during the market's summer hours.

"The market is excited to be further engaging our community through this public service," said Ewen Wallace, operations manager, Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market. "The drop box will assist Nova Scotians in gaining easier access to Nova Scotia's library resources."

Last year, more than 45,000 items were returned through the Borrow Anywhere, Return Anywhere program. More information is available at www.librariesns.ca .