Future of old Halifax library uncertain as new building is set to open

CTV Atlantic: Fate of Halifax library uncertain Now that the opening date of the new Halifax Central Library has been set, many are wondering what will happen to the old library.

Now that the opening date of the new Halifax Central Library has been set, many are wondering what will happen to the Memorial Public Library across the street.

There is no official closing date for the old library, but most items have been moved to the new library, leaving many shelves bare.

“Books are still being returned at the old Spring Garden Road library, so that’s still happening, and we still have some programs running this fall that we just couldn’t cancel,” says Karen Dahl of Halifax Public Libraries.

The city says it has no need for the building and, for now, its future remains unclear.

“There’s lots of municipal space. We are OK for space downtown,” says Coun. Waye Mason. “What we need is the not-for-profits to come forward and say how they’d use it and how they’d pay for it.”

The lease states the building must be maintained as a library or the land around it as a park. If it doesn’t, the land reverts back to the provincial government, but the city says it doesn’t want that to happen.

“Council has said they don’t want the building to sit there empty for a number of years, so if someone doesn’t come forward with a solid proposal…the decision is to tear it down,” says Mason.

He says council plans to meet to discuss the building’s future and issues like maintenance and security costs, but a date for the meeting has yet to be set.

If the library is town down, Mason says it will be called Grafton Park and would be controlled by either the municipality or the province.

The new Halifax Central Library is set to open Dec. 13.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Gena Holley