News Release Archive
BUSINESS/CONSUMER SERVICES--THE GOVERNMENT BOOKSTORE-BOOKS & MORE ----------------------------------------------------------------- You have so much to do today, you have no idea where to start. Find a topographical map of the Lunenburg area, locate a nice Acadian print for the living room, plan a mini biking and kayaking vacation within the province, brush up the nutritional needs of your two-year-old, get a copy of the Workers' Compensation Act, and track down that elusive recipe for Drunken Chicken, a dish you plan to serve to your church group Saturday night. No problem! Simply visit the Government Bookstore -- or if it is more convenient, visit the bookstore's homepage on the World Wide Web. The bookstore, in One Government Place, 1700 Granville St., Halifax, has been in business since the late 1970s. It acts on behalf of departments for phone, mail-order, Internet and over-the-counter sales of a variety of printed materials, including reports, maps, directories, legislative acts and literature pertaining to government programs and services. As well, it carries a variety of Nova Scotia-related publications. "You would be surprised at how much information is contained in the bookstore," said Business and Consumer Services Minister Sandy Jolly. "Even though customers usually visit the store looking for something really specific, they enjoy browsing through the shelves and reviewing the publications." So, what are the all-time big sellers? Bookstore manager Wendy Luciano said it's a toss-up between A Map of the Province of Nova Scotia ($16.95), which is a collection of topographical maps, and the Nova Scotia Directory of Manufacturers ($5.60). Every now and then, a newcomer rises swiftly to the top of the chart, depending upon the time of year and what has been released during that month. April, for instance, is the busiest month of the year with the release of the public accounts, the speech from the throne, the budget and estimates and the auditor general's report. The bookstore also distributes complimentary copies of government pamphlets, books, reports and publications to all deposit libraries throughout the province. Those who don't have time to visit the bookstore can now take advantage of its services by using their home computer. The publications catalogue and order form are available on-line at https://novascotia.ca/bacs/books/catalogu.htm "Providing innovative, convenient services to the people of Nova Scotia is our mandate," said Ms. Jolly. "By going on-line, we can not only serve Nova Scotians better, we can also meet the needs of other people throughout the world who have an interest in our province and our publications." In February alone, the bookstore received 30 orders via the Internet from other provinces, the eastern United States and as far away as Hawaii. Customers can pay for their orders with Visa or MasterCard. The bookstore homepage also features an on-line survey to gauge customer satisfaction with the publications catalogue, the order form and service delivery. From Acadian prints to zany recipes, you can find volumes of Nova Scotia information at the Government Bookstore. And in case you were looking, the recipe for Drunken Chicken can be found in Taste of Nova Scotia cookbook, selling for $21.95. -30- Contact: Louise MacDonald 902-424-0394 trp Apr. 15, 1997 - 8:45 a.m.