New Halifax Central Library to open Dec. 13

The new Halifax Central Library will open on Dec. 13, it was announced Wednesday morning.

"We're not a book warehouse. There's no 'Shh' anymore. This will be a place for people to make it whatever they want it to be," said Bruce Gorman, director of central library and regional services at Halifax Public Libraries.

"It'll be an icon, a beacon for our city, like the Eiffel Tower is for Paris."

He said libraries are changing — and the one in Halifax is unique.

"When you walk into a library you wouldn't normally think you can grab a coffee, log onto our Wi-Fi and watch the sunset on a patio," said Gorman.

The library is expecting double the number of daily visitors to the new building, compared to the old Spring Garden Road Memorial Public Library. To accommodate them, 51 new staff have been hired to work the floors.

Most of the book returns and indexing work have been automated.

"What it really is, is a library is a people's place. Our goal is to make sure that people themselves embrace the project and make a commitment, large or small to this project," said Paul Bennett, the chair of the Halifax Regional Library Board.

"In order to turn it into a living and breathing library, you have to have resources. That's where the community comes in."

Bennett said the library's Share the Wow fundraising campaign has raised $4.6 million of its $6.4-million goal, which is needed to stock the shelves.

CBC reporters toured the new library today. Follow their tweets for a sneak peek.

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