Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith P.
"Encourage" and "help" translate to "force". Just wait for the first senior who tumbles down that main staircase.
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Keith, you should really stop commenting on this until you've visited the library (if you ever do). You are truly making yourself look like a foolish curmudgeon who has an axe to grind rather than contributing anything to the discussion.
I finally got a chance to go in the library today. The first thing I saw when I entered? The stairs in front of me, approximately 40 feet away. The second thing I saw? THREE large elevators, OUT IN THE OPEN, just off to the right, approximately 20 feet away. The elevators are not hidden. They're not second class. In fact, they're probably overdone. Anyone who has mobility issues will have absolutely ZERO challenges getting to where they want to go. And for everyone else it's easy to get some much needed exercise climbing the stairs (and lots of people were doing it).
Okay now that that's out of the way... onto my impressions.
Number one impression: the new library is AWESOME. It's truly a gem for Halifax. It was full of people who were really enjoying themselves.
Number two impression: The "living room" on the cantilevered part is a great space. I had a big stupid grin on my face when I was in there.
Number three impression: It's not very noisy. I've heard people complain about this, and I have no idea where they're coming from. No, it's not "hear-a-pin-drop-quiet" like some stuffy libraries of old, but I would certainly have no problem sitting there doing some mildly intensive reading.
Number four impression: The interior finishes are a little cheap, but not as bad as this forum lead me to believe. The floors are engineered wood, not laminate. I don't give a rat's ass about the ceiling (it's fine for a ceiling). The exposed columns are fine. The one place where I really felt cheap was on the rubber stair treads. If I had a time machine I'd go back and tell them to ditch the printing on the glass and put the money into making the stairs look nicer.
Number five impression: I agree with comments about the exit to the roof patio. That one was not well thought out. However, the patio itself is great. Really nice views! Though maybe I should pretend I didn't say that because commenters on The Examiner were already calling for viewplanes from the library to be established.
Number six impression: It doessss feel a little empty compared to what I'm used to in a library. Certainly books are not the only focus. But I think that this might be more of a reflection of the shifting role of libraries. I'll probably get used to in.
Closing thoughts: Again, this place is awesome. I'll be back to use it a lot. Any nitpicks I have are minor. I'd say they got the place 95% right, and I'm fine with that. I think this was absolutely a great place to spend tax dollars. Could we have got a warehouse for books in half the space and half the cost? Yes. But this building is and will be more than just a book warehouse. It's truly a public institution and an cultural anchor for that part of the city. Halifax is much better for it.