Halifax Central Library

We passed by for their leaning plank off the building, but was met with amazing internal stair cases within. There were ample viewing platforms on the roof overlooking the city. There were many sections to visit for different book styles and open areas to read. Would love if more cities took on this opportunity.

Lovely atmosphere. A lot of children, making noise, on Sunday afternoon, but some portion is dedicated as quiet area so it is convenient to read quietly. I did feel a bit of limitation in the collection, especially study books but lots of novel and children books are available. The exciting part was to find the multicultural books, in local languages.

I live this library, clean, quiet, comfortable, ambient environment in the top floor sitting area with amazing view overlooking the city and surrounding areas. Great place to spend a day reading and relaxing.

Beautiful library with excellent natural lighting. Acoustics are perfect for studying with a wide range of breakout spaces for different group work. It also has a small rooftop terrace and garden with panoramic views of the city and waterfront.

Beautifully designed buulding with perfectly arranged study and reading areas. Great city views and comfy seating. Cafe was closed when I visited.

Halifax Central Library was amazing!! It’s very modern, spacious, bright, organized and they have variety of spaces for different purposes. They even have a cafe at the ground and top floor and they also have an open patio roof top. I was blown away while visiting this place. The amenities and design was outstanding!

"A modern book citadel" From the outside the building looks modern and very beautiful, but when I first came in I didn’t expect that I would be surprised inside either. An intersection of stairs, a protruding reading zone on the top floor, a small cafeteria and an exit to the roof (closed in winter) next to it. An unusual library style for me. Just like in the library not far from our house, there are computers to sit and do your business. Computers to register/check your profile and books with different languages, various rooms for classes, including small rooms that can be occupied for some kind of meeting I assume. Everything is in greater volume than in other branches... and of course a lot more books. This place was a little disconcerting in a pleasant way. And of course the staff here is very polite and pleasant to talk to.

It is blessed to have this institution. It helped me a lot to explore myself. It is the most interesting place I visited in Halifax

The best value for the money food in Halifax is the day old bread and bakery at the roof top coffee shop. I was coming from a cruise ship, it was awesome to find a place with free Wi-Fi.

From the perspective of a kids library, this is a really cool space. Great natural lighting. A kids section where you don't feel pressure to hush your kids much at all.

Gorgeous building is a showstopper. See what a socialist government can do for us in the U. S. A. Set in cute as a button Halifax, N. S.

Brand new library. Open under one month. Modern architecture. Bright, windows everywhere with spectacular views. Definitely a neighbourhood gathering spot - especially with the two Pavia cafes (on main and fifth floor). Eco friendly building with a green roof. A lot more traffic than the previous main library - hopefully it lasts and is just not a function of being a new, novel building!!!

No Noise policy. So sadly this place has lost a few stars. Even though the HRM website says all libraries have a noise policy, the staff here say they don't because it's more of a public place. Which I understand. however we are in study areas and working areas. Soooo teenagers laughing and talking loudly for over an hour should be the exception. But when I talked to the staff, they refused to ask them to be a bit quieter stating that more people had to go and complain before anything could be done. THAT BEING SAID, everything else is still fantastic. Staff are helpful, the services are amazing and location incredible. Not to mention a fantastic coffee shop upstairs. But the noise policy sucks and makes studying or working harder. Especially if someone is playing music or videos from a device.

What can I say, this is a stunning library. One feels proud as a Haligonian to have this magnificent structure in our city. There are beautiful views to be had, beautiful architecture waiting around every corner and all sorts of nooks and crannies to explore. There are coffee shops, places to hang out, all sorts of computers. Basically everything you would want in your dream library. The only downside is that parking can be difficult and/or expensive, especially during busy times. Signing up for a library card was a super simple and smooth process and the people who work there are a pleasure to interact with. I will definitely be coming here again and again.

I am slightly obsessed with our library, it's pretty impressive if you ask me. Didn't win a bunch of architecturally awards for nothing. The building is one-of-a-kind, the staff go above and beyond and it's the perfect free place to spend a couple hours with your kids or to find a quiet corner and snuggle up by yourself with a book. The kids area has a Lego table, puppets, complete toy kitchen, dollhouse, gaming stations and an incredible variety of books. I told the kids they could pick one book each, but there were just so many good ones, we left with eight. I even managed to find time to snag one for myself as, we were exiting the building. Oh and the coffee shop downstairs has great lattes.

Green and new The Central Library in Halifax was planned and discussed for years and finally opened in 2014. It still looks, feels and even smells new, and is a stunning example of architecture that combines the aesthetically beautiful with the very practical and useful. The library is much larger than the one if replaced and has five floors, a huge auditorium that seats 300 people, some amazing art and all kinds of practical and modern conveniences. There are also two cafes, one on the bottom floor, and another up on the roof that gives great views of the city. The design of the library features a cool overhang on the fifth floor that looks down on the central plaza. The library is extremely spacious and has wonderful open staircases that seem to hang in air as well as handicap accessibility. One of the features that the designers gave a lot of thought to is the environmental foot print of the library. They wanted to minimize it as much as possible so all kinds of energy saving features are designed into the library. A truly amazing library. When we were there is was crowded but the librarians still had time for us and we got a guest pass to access the computers. A library that will serve the city of Halifax for decades and will serve as an example for libraries yet to be built.

This is one of my favourite libraries! It has everything you could possibly need. It has two coffee shops and 5 floor stuffed with books, computers, audio books and more. If you have any spare time I would recommend coming here.

I realize my opinion is the minority, but truly don't like this library. First off, I feel the big modern building in the middle of Spring Garden looks strange and doesn't fit historic Halifax. I guess being someone who loves old architecture, it's a bit of an eye sore to me. Yes I understand the creativity behind it and all that jazz but this is my review so :P. On top of that, inside is a bland white barren land with a whole lot of stairs. I don't even know where to look for what I want and what I normally find on each of the floors is an insane amount of space and not enough books. It's more like a hangout place than a library. I am sure in many ways that's great for people but I don't usually go to the library to hangout, I go to find literature. I also don't enjoy walking up flights of stairs to simply find a book to read and yes, they do have elevators but I feel like a lazy ass using them. So that's my thoughts. Sorry Halifax.

This is my favourite work place in the city. No matter what floor you sit on, you find an open bright space to enjoy - often with a beautiful view. I love working on the upper floor and looking out towards McNabs Island or the water. They have great community programming, with a whole floor dedicated to kids and teens, and often show movies in the big auditorium.

I love this new library for the most part. It's so exciting for Halifax to introduce such a big modern building. I love the old and the new of Halifax. I love the outside and the inside. It's very modern and clean. It's alot of while and alot of bare spaces. I like it. Cramped, dark libraries will always be around. It's nice to have a bit of extra space and brightness. The upstairs cafe is amazing. Oh and the elevators have touch screens! Fun. The only thing I don't like is the top floor. The top floor is amazing but its hot as hell in the middle of the day. It's such an amazing view. I love it. But the room is made of windows and its just so hot.

I love libraries and this one did not disappoint. I visited with my 78 year old father and my 14 year old daughters and we were all entertained and comfortable. The space is gorgeous, it is new, fancy and comfortable and full of people. the staff are very attentive and the wifi is pretty good too! PLAN TO HAVE LUNCH HERE ! THE CAFE IS GREAT. The location for lunch is unmatched in the city! You will not be disappointed! enjoy and tell them Aime sent ya!

My favourite place to come. Relaxing environment and great place. Staff are excellent and extremely helpful. Absolutely beautiful inside and out.

What a great addition to the city. It's a big, beautiful, modern building. Signing up was a breeze. The layout is roomy and interesting. There are plenty of places to sit. There are lots of computers to use, free internet access, cheap printing facilities ($0.10 per page), and free scanners. The café is nice, with pretty good coffee. The kids area is super: lots of room for them to run and play if they're too young to be distracted for long by the books. Staff are very helpful, facilities are easy. It feels like a friendly, practical, relaxing, interesting centre for the community.

I have mixed reviews on this place. On one hand I hated it, there is not nearly enough books that a library should have. Its floors of white walls and wasted space. I liked it as a hangout spot. But not as a library.

Yeah, no. Not a fan. *Tried* to make a quick stop in to pick up a book on hold. First impression: big, white, uninviting empty space with zero personality and lots of echo. Next: where are the books? There are a few haphazardly-placed shelves with "quick picks" and "rapid reads" but that's it. I assume the real library is located upstairs (which unfortunately I didn't have time to visit). More questions: what are all these signless white desks? Where the heck do you check out books? And where are they hiding the holds? This is a very counter-intuitive library. It's like they're trying to hide pertinent information from you, like how to find what you're looking for. I approached one of the signless white desks and learned the hold books are hidden behind a blank white wall. Again, no signs. Oh wait, it did say something like "Thanks to our Donors." Nothing about the hold books though. The only colour is from some tiny squares of artwork above a large white desk which *may* have had writing on it. Unfortunately it's at knee level and since people were standing in front of it I couldn't tell you what it said. This is a very long way of saying I found this library impersonal and aesthetically displeasing. No desire to return.

Visiting here for a few days! Found the library quite impressive and my son had fun hanging out and reading! Free parking on the side!

The modernest bestest awesomest coolest place in Hali! I love the books, the programs, and the computers!!!

Libraries are some of my favourite places to be on any given day, but the Central Library serves a whole new purpose for me. As a freelance business person, I use the library regularly for meetings with clients. There are so many wonderful spots to sink into - couches hidden amongst the book shelves, booths with personalized lighting options, chairs with tables and corner suites near the windows. I've used them all at different times and for different 'moods'. A recent strategy session I had there with my business partners was one of our most productive. Also, I never get tired of gazing at all of the little tile paintings. :)

My first thought when I entered the double glass doors were - wait, did I accidentally walk into a tech store? Was it Apple or Microsoft store since everything looked white? Or is it a Facebook store since there were signs all over the place about Facebook tutorials? When did Facebook open a store? Then I walked up to the 2nd floor, and all I saw were - kids playing computer games - FPS, strategy etc... walked a bit more and saw teens playing Xbox. So this must be some video game hangout that you can also get some computer help from? Nice place for the family. I looked around a bit more, and there were even comics, magazines, and lots of books when you get bored with the computer gadgets, and video games. There's even a coffee shop on premise - Halifax shows how to build a cosy, comfortable environment to hang out.

Amazing library! Very large! I went here a few months ago, they didn't have a lot of variety in books but I'm sure they do now! It's a nice place to come and have a seat as the environment is very peaceful. Can't believe this library IN HALIFAX is listed in the top ten most beautiful libraries on earth! Go Halifax!

A treat for the ears and eyes. I was lucky enough to see two different orchestra's play. I love the energy this building has to offer, there's plenty of activity going on on the main level but the higher up you go, you have the quiet spaces. It's very bright and airy, great for those who aren't comfortable in small spaces :) To be completely honest, for the huge space inside and size of the floors, I would have liked to have seen more books to satisfy the many literary cravings of Haligonians. I wonder, was this done intentionally or does the library need more books and donations? I do appreciate the spaces they have available for meetings, and you can have it catered for by any vendor you wish as long as you clean up after yourself. All in all, it's a great space whether you're a student or a senior looking to cure your green thumb. I need to do spend more time there exploring, I might just go there tomorrow!

This is a great spot to meet someone for coffee, study with some friends, or go by yourself and enjoy some downtime reading. The Wi-Fi usually works well for me so it could work as a working space. I love how they have quite a few events for the community such as movie nights, yoga, and music performances, along with skill building workshops such as creating a video game or resume building - something for everyone! There is a pretty decent selection of books (and sometimes it's a bit tricky to find the specific section you are looking for), but there are plenty of staff that can help you in your book finding journey. A beautiful building, and beautiful addition to Halifax!

I absolutely love this library! The new Central Library is truly amazing. Even though I'm not exactly a bookworm, I still love the library as it has so much to offer. The building is beautiful, futuristic and it really stands out from all of the other buildings. I absolutely LOVE the fact that there is free 2hr parking in the back because it is so hard to find parking in this part of town. Inside the library is very modern and has pretty much everything you need including a café, workstations, computers and much more. It does get quite busy at times, but its not too busy. It also isnt exactly quiet but there are work areas if you need a silent place to work. The book selection in this library is amazing compared to the other libraries. You will pretty much always find the item that you're looking for. There are books and magazines in many different languages which I love since I speak 4 languages. The staff here are so helpful and they always have a smile on their face. I would live in this library if I could because it is so amazing. I hope this library will be able to stay that way even when time passes.

I love the new library! It is beautiful, has a large selection, and the concept is awesome. I love that it has a floor for the modern youth; I don't like being on it, but it's pretty awesome that it's there and set up as it is. I was so excited to make it in and grab one of those booth seats to work in; unfortunately, they are not nearly as comfy as they appear. Boo to you uncomfy booths! Here's what loses a star for me. I attended a presentation in the theatre in the back of the first floor. The seats were very uncomfortable and very close together. They were not equipped to deal with the added bulk of winter items and I felt like I was breathing over my neighbours shoulder often. As it was, the space ate up the words of those not using a mic, and there were technical issues with the mic to begin with. Not a huge deal - growing pains. The other major issue is that the sound really carries through the library. I was doing some work on the fourth floor and there was a group of kids on the first floor for some event, and the sound of their activity carried all the way up. The last issue I had also pertains to uncomfortable (and inefficient) sitting spots. There are a lot of workspaces, but they are not all created equal. The booths I mentioned earlier go really fast; actually, everything goes really fast if you aren't there early enough to claim a good spot. As such, I found myself doing a mad search for a study space and found a nice little spot away from the outside distractions away from people watching other library patrons. There was just not enough room on those itty bitty tables for a laptop plus anything else I may have been using, which was some books, paper etc. Why have those tiny things with TWO chairs when one person can't do legitimate work on it. I really like the fact that I don't get the stink eye for bringing snacks with me on a long study day. But also, that the library made sure that they were a welcoming place, including the open invitation to HRM homeless population. When so many people shun those individuals as less than human, I thought it was great that the library chose to acknowledge them and invite them in. Funny little side story - I was on my first walk through a week or so after the grand opening and was on the top floor when I got stuck behind a young couple, maybe 20ish. They were looking outside at the green roof when the guy said, "I can't believe in this day and age they put grass on the roof. That's so backwards." It made me giggle, especially as an environmental studies student who believes that it's a step towards the future :)

Look at their best seller list on Discover page. You will see that the oders of new books are biased about 500 non-fiction to 10 fiction. They say for at least 4 months that they cannot get the site to register more of the fiction books. My belief is that they cannot solve the problem in going on 5 months then they should fire the person responsible and find another. Major libraries across Canada do not have this problem, maybe they should ask other libraries why they do not have this problem.

Simply put, there is no other Library like it. From its design to its programming and "feel". This has become a focal point of a vibrant and growing community. It needs to be seen to truly be appreciated. Before this was opened we might have gone to the library a few times a year, now it's a weekly, if not daily occurrence. This definitely isn't a typical library. Books and information centre aside, it has stunning rooftop views, amazing seating, a world class coffee shop, a small theatre and more. It's rare a library can transform a commercial district, this did. Want a book, they got it. Want to host an art show? They can do that. Need to meet a client, this place has you covered. It now is a top 5 must see if in our city in my humble opinion. This is a library experience like no other. And for the most part, it's free ( some exceptions of course). Great location with lots of parking options either on site or within a block.

Spent a few hours working here recently, what a beautiful facility! We are lucky to have it in our city!