The New Brunswick government's decision to appoint a non-librarian to run the province's 64 public libraries has become a national issue among librarians.

Kevin Cormier was named executive director of the New Brunswick Public Library Service last week and the librarian social media community has been abuzz ever since about his apparent lack of training or experience.

On Friday, the Atlantic Provinces Library Association issued an open letter expressing "concerns" to Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Trevor Holder, who is responsible for libraries in the province.

"We see no substitute for a solid grounding in the principles of library service, experience working with the public in a library, or progressive responsibility for the administration of a library system," wrote president Trecia Schell on behalf of the association that represents roughly 400 library workers and supporters across the region.

"We respectfully request a clarification of [Cormier's] professional qualifications and experience as they related to NBPLS' commitment towards achieving excellence in library service provision to the public," wrote Schell, who has a master's degree in science, a PhD and a master's of library and information studies.

Trecia Schell, a librarian at the Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library, is president of the Atlantic Provinces Libraries Association, which represents about 400 library workers and supporters. (Nova Scotia Provincial Library)

She copied the letter to Premier Blaine Higgs, the leaders of the other political parties, the chair of the New Brunswick Public Libraries Board, the chair of the New Brunswick Public Libraries Foundation, and the chair of the Canadian Federation of Library Associations.

Neither a department spokesperson nor Cormier responded to a request for an interview Friday. Cormier has not spoken publicly since the controversy began.

The executive director posting listed "essential qualifications" as a master's degree in library and/or information studies from an American Library Association-accredited program, as well as a minimum of eight years of "progressively responsible related work experience."

Cormier's LinkedIn profile lists his education as a single year at York University's Schulich School of Business in Toronto (2005) and two years at the Moncton Flight College (1998-2000).

He spent the past year at the government's Executive Council Office and was previously the CEO of Kings Landing historical settlement near Fredericton for seven years.

11 applicants

"Librarians in the province, well, in the region, are quite concerned," said Phil Taber, a librarian at the University of New Brunswick Saint John campus, who has been following the issue closely.

And that concern has spread to the "national library audience," he said.

"Librarians have a sensitivity to these issues no matter where they're happening really in North America."

Phil Taber, a librarian at UNBSJ, says a library science degree 'signifies something,' it's not just 'a hoop to jump through.' (Submitted by Phil Taber)

Taber said he bears "no animus towards this fellow," but even an entry-level position typically requires an undergraduate degree, followed by a master's degree, which is usually two years and includes an apprenticeship.

So to lead the provincial system, "it's really a dramatic shortcoming that [he] has."

Eleven people applied for the job that pays up to $114,000 a year, Erika Jutras, a spokesperson for the department told CBC News on Wednesday.

She declined to reveal whether any of them were interviewed, or to disclose any information about their qualifications.

"To protect the privacy of the applicants we cannot release anymore details," she said.

On Thursday, the Liberals called on the government to rescind Cormier's appointment, describing it as "bizarre."

"This is a joke, an embarrassment for the government and the people of New Brunswick," Guy Arseneault, the Opposition Liberal critic for Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour said in a statement.

'Slap in the face'

He called it a "slap in the face" for the applicants.

"This smells of more bad politics from the Higgs government where only political allies are given plum high-paying jobs," he alleged.

The acting deputy minister Dan Mills said earlier this "there was no patronage involved" and it's a "non-partisan role."

Liberal MLA Guy Arseneault said Cormier's qualifications appear to fall 'woefully short.' (Gary Moore/CBC)

Cormier has worked in various progressively responsible roles in the New Brunswick public service for more than 15 years, said Mills.

He was appointed the head of the library service through the Corporate Talent Management Program. The program provides current and aspiring executives in the upper pay bands with "opportunities to further develop their executive competencies within and/or outside their current department," according to the government's website.

The executive director position was posted as an open competition from Nov. 1 until Nov. 25 "with the intention of providing sufficient opportunity for the ad to be seen and for interested individuals to apply," said the department spokesperson.

In addition to posting the competition through the regular distribution channels, the department also shared the competition with the following library groups: