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Originally Posted by roryn1
But then that just leaves their current space deserted? And I walk by it everyday and never see many people in it... I just don’t understand the public library concept anymore when we all have the internet now. That area around the library is rough - I walk by it every day but try to avoid walking in front as I get harassed there a lot and I’ve seen bikes getting stolen out from with large metal clippers. I’d rather not leave it completely vacant as that’d make it more of a rough hangout spot maybe. If the goal of the library is to give poverished people access to information I’d rather see the city and province team up on a free data and e-reader plan for people making less than $10K a year instead of a brick and mortar fancy glass building. The library even uploads books on to e readers now - no need to do any of this in person. Growing up I remember going for story telling sessions as my local library but kids have more access to information than ever and every school has a library. I think this concept for a massive and new public library needs to be squashed - as much as I’d love to see a fancy new government funded building be built to beautify our downtown there are higher priorities to fix the crime issue. Two people have been murdered on my street downtown this year - way larger issues at present.
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Yet in-person use of our libraries is holding steady and growing. Why abandon these public spaces just because technology allows us to? We can't give people more reason to retreat into the personal cocoons that mobile technology has allowed for and not have us interacting with each other.
I know it's cited ad nauseam, but the Halifax Central Library is a great model for what a library can be -- a community focal point and gathering place that is much more than just a place for books. I daresay that in the interest of addressing crime or perceptions of safety in our Downtown, a new library can help drive more foot traffic and positive activity.
What if a new library became a more regularly used "third place" in our community? Halifax shows it can work. It can also assist in the reshaping of Downtown as a more complete neighbourhood that is an attractive place to live.
As for cost and spending priorities, yeah, people have opinions on that. But the library has been citing overcrowding at its central branch for years (even decades?). They've also been dutifully socking away money for years into a reserve that has grown into a bit of seed funding for a new branch. We funded the Remai. It seems many wouldn't flinch at funding a new arena. The library deserves due consideration too.
To Ricopedra's point about using the old police station, in my opinion a new library needs to be designed from the ground up if it's to fulfill its potential as a renewed community focal point, otherwise we're shortchanging its chance at success. Leasing a retrofitted office building won't suffice.