The cutting has begun at school boards across the province and it appears no one is safe, including school librarians.
"We’ve had it," said Joan Jessome, president of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union, after learning late this week that every librarian in every school under the Chignecto-Central regional school board will be out of a job on June 30.
"It’s like taking the food out of a cafeteria — what will they do without librarians?" Jessome asked during a telephone interview Friday.
Facing a $6.5-million budget shortfall after the province cut funding to school boards by three per cent, the Chignecto-Central board intends to cut 130 full-time equivalent employees.
The decision was made at a board meeting Wednesday night.
Most librarians were given the news Thursday.
"There are 41of us . . . we were told Thursday we’re just gone," said a Pictou County woman who asked not to be named. "There will be no more librarians or technicians."
Shocked, saddened and fearful about the future, she is also angry.
"It just doesn’t seem possible and when I told the teachers on Thursday, they wouldn’t even believe me — they thought I was joking," she said.
"Everyone was bracing for some kind of reduction or maybe an increase in the number of schools you were responsible for but we’re all gone," she added. "I didn’t expect to see a total annihilation of my job."
While the librarians spend time checking books in or out of the library, their work also includes assisting students and staff with research, sourcing and citation. They also look after computer and photographic equipment.
"A lot of students spend their lunchtime or breaks in the library because they just can’t handle being out in the cafeteria or the hallways with all the crowds," she said.
"It’s a good place to feel safe and to get some quiet time for students and it just breaks my heart to know they’re not going to have that place anymore."
Jessome said 54.6 Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union positions will be cut at the Chignecto-Central board. The cuts also affect secretaries, administrative assistants and education assistants.
"I’ve met with the Nova Scotia Teachers Union and CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) and we are planning action together in the coming weeks," said Jessome. "We’re coming together on this."
