Vacant leadership positions prompt temporary closure of three libraries across The Nation, Ont. [Video]

Library branches in St-Albert, Limoges and St-Isidore are set to close temporarily for three months starting on Jan. 1, 2025, The Nation says, citing governance challenges at the board level.

The municipal council decided to close the branches between Jan. 1 and March 31.

The factors leading up to the decisions are the resignation of the Library Board Chair and other members, and the upcoming retirement of the long-serving Library Chief Executive Officer, leaving the library without the necessary leadership to operate under the Public Libraries Act, according to the municipality.

While the board does not have a succession plan in place, the municipality says, “it is the legal responsibility of the Library Board, not the municipal council, to oversee the library’s operations, including budget management, staffing, and long-term planning.”

“We understand that libraries are an important service for our residents, and we regret the temporary disruption this closure will …