August 17, 2026
Bestselling Nova Scotia author Rachel Reid donates $300,000 to Annapolis Valley Regional Library
ANNAPOLIS VALLEY, N.S. – The Annapolis Valley Regional Library (AVRL) has received a gift of $300,000 from bestselling author and Nova Scotia native Rachel Reid, one of Canada’s most celebrated contemporary romance writers and the author of Heated Rivalry.
The donation represents one of the most significant private gifts in AVRL’s history and will help strengthen library services across the Annapolis Valley in the months ahead, supporting the library’s mission to provide free access to books, literacy, learning and welcoming community spaces for people of all ages.
Julia Merritt, CEO of the Annapolis Valley Regional Library, said the donation represents an extraordinary investment in library services and in the people and communities they serve.
“This is an incredibly generous gift, and we are profoundly grateful to Rachel for choosing to invest in libraries, the Annapolis Valley, and the people our libraries serve,” said Merritt. “Her support will make a meaningful difference and help us continue creating opportunities for people across the region to read, learn and connect.”
The donation will support priority library services across the Annapolis Valley, with additional details on its implementation to be shared as plans are finalized.
“Libraries are one of the most important services governments provide. I credit my local library for being a huge part of the reason I’m a published author today. As essential community cornerstones, libraries provide free resources, information, assistance, and safe spaces to their residents. Nova Scotia governments should be prioritizing libraries, and working to ensure these fundamental branches remain open for their communities,” says Reid.
Reid, whose novels have earned international acclaim and a devoted global readership, has long championed the importance of reading, literacy and accessible public libraries. AVRL also announced that Reid will participate in a special ticketed public event this September celebrating libraries, reading and community. Additional details will be released later this week.
As a significant private contribution, Reid’s gift complements, but does not replace, the critical need for an increase in the stable annual public funding and strong municipal and provincial partnerships needed to sustain library services over the long term. AVRL remains committed to working with its government partners to ensure communities across the region continue to have access to strong, vibrant public libraries.
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Julia Merritt, CEO
Annapolis Valley Regional Library
