The Annapolis Valley Regional Library organized the Saturday event, which featured a silent auction and a Q&A. The fundraiser collected just over $70,000, a sum that will support library operations until the next fiscal year.

Earlier, Rachel Reid announced a personal donation of $300,000 to the same library system after it revealed that five of its branches would close permanently because of financial strain.

Library chief executive officer Julia Merritt explained that the combined money from the event and Reid’s gift will keep the libraries open for a few more months, but she warned that this cash is only a stop‑gap, not a long‑term fix.

Merritt added that the library’s deficit was $625,000 last year and is expected to rise close to $700,000 in the coming fiscal year, highlighting the need for sustainable, inflation‑adjusted public funding.

The fundraiser shows how community enthusiasm and author philanthropy can provide short‑term relief, yet the growing shortfall underscores why stable government support is essential for the survival of Nova Scotia’s public libraries.