The Next Chapter

September 22, 2011 9:23 PM

The Antigonish Town and County Library is creating a buzz, and no librarians are about to shush it.


Located on Main Street, next to the Capitol Theatre, the Antigonish Town and County Library, also known as the People’s Place Project, is filled with sunlight.


Large windows can be found on almost every wall and bath the building’s white, sage green and burgundy colour scheme in natural light.


Replacing the old library, located behind Town Hall, The People’s Place Project has been in the works for ten years. Returning students may remember the almost yearlong construction period before the grand opening on May 24, 2011.  


Part of the Pictou-Antigonish regional library system, The People’s Place Project saw close to 4000 visitors during its grand opening. 


Spanning 14 thousand feet, the new library houses health connections, a community health outreach program provided by the Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority, as well as two classrooms set aside for the Adult Learning Association. 


The project is funded by the Municipality of the County of Antigonish, the Town of Antigonish, the Atlantic Canada Building Fund, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and Service Nova Scotia.


Additionally, grants provided by ecoNova Scotia helped outfit the library with a water-bottle filling station and a rooftop gray water system.  


From blueprints to execution, the Antigonish Town and County Library was a community effort. “We’re here for everybody. We have programs for babies up to seniors, and it’s a nice place for students to study,” says supervising librarian Kristel Fleuren-Hunter.


StFX students took part in this community effort. Last year the off-campus student society held a fundraiser and collected almost $500 for new books. 


There are many resources for students beyond the use of free Wi-Fi. The library has a bistro area, equipped with tables and chessboards, where patrons can bring food and drink. Fleuren-Hunter hopes students will use this area for meetings and study. 


Large study carousels will no doubt be hot commodities during midterm season, as will the chairs near the library’s fireplace. 


A community kitchen, community room and meeting room will also serve students well.  These spaces can be booked free of charge by nonprofit community groups. 


Fleuren-Hunter is eager to see students passing through the library’s doors and encourages interested students to stop by the circulation desk. Simply signing up for a free library card will give StFX students full use of the library.


The library is open Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday – Friday from 9a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.