NSSBB Online - Home Page

Questions and requests for assistance should be directed by teachers to supervisory personnel with the Regional Centres for Education and by supervisory personnel of Regional Centres for Education to the staff of the Program Branch, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

Program Branch staff will be pleased to meet Regional Centres for Education personnel on request to discuss issues related to the Authorized Learning Resources, the credit allocation system, and the ordering process.

The address of the Nova Scotia School Book Bureau (NSSBB) is:

The general public may purchase learning resources through the NSSBB. All cash purchases are subject to a 20% markup. Purchases may be made by mail or in person at:

Tax on textbooks is 5%. Tax on software, manipulatives, videos, cassettes, as well as consumable materials such as workbooks, blackline masters, and some kits is 15%.

We regret that we are unable to sell educational software to the general public due to specialized educational pricing and licensing agreements.

There is a minimum shipping and handling fee of $10 plus applicable taxes. Orders over $500 will be charged a 2% shipping and handling fee on the net amount (before taxes) of the order.

Schools purchasing by school cheque are exempt from the 20% markup. There is a 15% shipping and handling fee on the net amount (before taxes) of the order, with a minimum shipping and handling fee of $10.00. Orders for pick up will be charged a 7.5% shipping and handling fee on the net amount (before taxes) of the order, with a minimum shipping and handling fee of $10.00.

In HST provinces, add 15% to the shipping and handling fee. In other provinces and territories, add 5% to the shipping and handling fee.

Mail orders must include the title, stock code number, and a cheque or money order for the price plus appropriate tax. Cheques or money orders must be made payable to the Minister of Finance. For information or assistance, call the NSSBB at 902-424-5516.

The Nova Scotia School Book Bureau orders on demand. When full payment for learning resources has been received, your request will be processed. Please allow 3 - 6 weeks for delivery.

School requests for a refund on cash purchases will be paid to the Regional Centre for Education, and they in turn will reimburse to the individual school.

Note that prices are subject to change throughout the school year.

The Credit Allocation System

Learning resources are provided to schools through a credit allocation system. Credit allocation refers to the financial system for the purchase of learning resources by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and/or School for use by students and teachers in the public schools of Nova Scotia. Learning resources include such items as textbooks, software, and manipulatives. A credit allocation is established yearly upon approval of Cabinet. It represents a dollar commitment for learning resources to support the curriculum, and the calculation is based on a per student amount and actual school enrolments. There is no provision for the carry-over of credit allocation from one fiscal year to the next. The credit allocation is administered by the NSSBB.

Up to 60% of each Regional Centre�s for Education credit allocation will be targeted for directed purchase by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

The remaining 40% of the credit allocation can be accessed by individual schools to make purchases of learning resources in support of Regional Centre for Education and/or school priorities. Authorized learning resources will be purchased from the NSSBB using online ordering.

Up to 40% of the credit allocation for each School may be used to purchase eligible learning resources not included in Authorized Learning Resources, at the discretion and authorization of the school principal. Authorization for the 40% allocation is made according to the policies and procedures specified by the Department in this document.

All reimbursements for 40%�s to individual schools will be paid to the Regional Centre for Education, and they in turn will reimburse to the school.

Online Order Dates

The online orders must be completed and submitted to the NSSBB. The NSSBB will advise Regional Centres for Education of the ordering dates and they will advise their schools. Late orders will not be accepted.

Ordering date deadlines for the 2023-2024 fiscal year are:

On-Line Ordering Frequently Asked Questions

Teacher's FAQ's
School's FAQ's

Receipt of the Order in the School

A packing slip for each shipment will be enclosed in the carton marked "Packing Slip Enclosed."

Carefully check the items received against the packing slip and advise the NSSBB of discrepancies in writing no later than 10 days after receipt of the goods or within 10 days of school opening in September if order was received after school closing. Discrepancies reported after 10 days cannot be adjusted by the NSSBB. Quantity adjustments will be noted on the line immediately following "QTY SHPD." These changes should be taken into consideration when checking quantities received against quantities ordered.

Adjustments by the NSSBB based on written notice of discrepancies will be dependent on verification of the number of cartons or packages received in the shipment. Staff assigned for receiving should be advised to count cartons, check against the waybill, record on all copies of the waybill any carton shortages and retain the copy of the waybill sent with the shipment. Do not accept material addressed to another school.

Returns are not accepted unless prior approval is received in writing from the Supervisor of the NSSBB. Any request for returns must be directed through the principal or designate. Only material ordered through credit allocation for the present fiscal year will be considered for return. Books marked or stamped or otherwise made unsalable will not be accepted. All approved returns must be sent back on a prepaid basis.

Approval for returning material shipped by the NSSBB in error is automatic. When notification of the error is received, it will be verified by the NSSBB. The error will be corrected immediately, and on the correction packing slip schools will be requested to return the materials previously sent in error. Where errors of this nature occur, the materials should be returned to the NSSBB. Contact the NSSBB for shipping information.

Items returned without permission will be returned to the school with shipping charges collect.

Monthly "Statement of Credit Allocation"

A statement is prepared monthly by the NSSBB for each Regional Centre for Education and School showing the unexpended balance at the beginning of the month, charges during the month and the unexpended balance at the end of the month. The statement prepared for the Regional Center for Education includes directed purchase resources. The statement prepared for the school includes the 40% credit allocation, and purchases from the Authorized Learning Resources. Invoices are attached for statement reconciliation.

The following is an explanation of the columns in the statement:
Date�the day on which the entry is posted to the account
Invoice�invoice number assigned by computer
School #�the Regional Centre for Education/School identification number to which the charge is applied
Debits�the total of the invoice for each transaction which has been completed in the preceding month
Credits�any credit applied to the account
Balance�the net unexpended amount of the allocation. If the account has a debit balance, the order will not be shipped and the School will be advised of the over-expenditure

Arrangements for textbook repair and rebinding will be made directly by the Regional Centre for Education/school with any firm supplying the service. The Regional Centre for Education will pay the firm and the NSSBB will reimburse the Regional Centre for Education for repair and rebinding costs up to a maximum of $13.99 per unit. Bookbinders will provide pick up and delivery services during scheduled visits to your area. The Regional Centre for Education should forward the paid invoices to the Supervisor, NSSBB. A cheque will be prepared, payable to the Regional Centre for Education, and the amount charged to the credit allocation.

General Information