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Halifax Central Library

Libraries ·Halifax ·Open now
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About

Halifax Central Library is the five-storey flagship of Halifax Public Libraries, at Spring Garden Road and Queen Street in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia.

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Halifax Central Library

Halifax Central LibraryHalifax Central LibraryHalifax Central LibraryHalifax Central LibraryHalifax Central LibraryHalifax Central LibraryHalifax Central LibraryHalifax Central LibraryHalifax Central LibraryHalifax Central Library

What's on here

The antidote to apathy: effective advocacy on a busy schedule The antidote to apathy: effective advocacy on a busy schedule Saturday, 11:00Free Secular and Spiritual Mindfulness: Is there a difference? Secular and Spiritual Mindfulness: Is there a difference? Thursday, 19:00Free Policy Matters: The Atlantic Economic Report and Policy in a Time of… Policy Matters: The Atlantic Economic Report and Policy in a Time of… Friday, 17:30Free Craft & Costume Swap Craft & Costume Swap Saturday, 13:00Free

Why go

  • The Halifax Living Room, a public reading space overlooking Citadel Hill, Halifax Harbour and the civic square.
  • A rooftop terrace with seating and views of Downtown, the South End and Halifax Harbour.
  • Library Cards behind the main reception and Book Shelf Paintings in the fifth-floor Living Room.

Opening hours

Today09:00 – 21:00Show all
Monday09:00 – 21:00
Tuesday09:00 – 21:00
Wednesday09:00 – 21:00
Thursday09:00 – 21:00
Friday09:00 – 18:00
Saturday09:00 – 18:00
Sunday12:00 – 18:00

What's inside

  • The collection has room for half again as many items as the predecessor library.
  • Quiet areas occupy the upper floors.
  • Three Books of Remembrance stand in a glass case beside the fourth-level local history room.
  • The ground-floor, 300-seat Paul O’Regan Hall doubles as a reading space between performances.
  • Facilities include two soundproof recording studios, 120 public computers, a computer lab, 14 study rooms, conference rooms and community rooms.
  • There are cafés on the ground and fifth floors.

Know before you go

  • Opening hours: Monday–Thursday 09:00–21:00; Friday–Saturday 09:00–18:00; Sunday 12:00–18:00.

With kids

  • The second floor has children’s and teens’ areas, with video games and a multimedia studio.

Interesting facts3

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  1. 6,000 paintings

    Artist Cliff Eyland created 6,000 paintings for the library: 5,000 in Library Cards and 1,000 in Book Shelf Paintings.

    Halifax Central Library - Wikipedia

  2. Residents were consulted throughout the design process to shape the library as a community space.

    Bibliothèque centrale d'Halifax - Wikipedia
  3. 1860

    An archaeological dig uncovered Bellevue House foundations, china, cutlery and an 1860 Nova Scotia penny.

    Halifax Central Library - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

Bellevue House stood on the new library site before its demolition in 1955. The new library occupied land that had been used as a parking lot for half a century. After the predecessor library’s space was outgrown, regional council approved a replacement in 2008. The new building opened in 2014 across the street from its predecessor.

  1. 1800The Duke of Kent bought the land.
  2. 1801Bellevue House was built on the site and hosted visiting members of the Royal Family.
  3. 1885Fire destroyed Bellevue House; it was rebuilt.
  4. 1951The predecessor library opened across the street.
  5. 1955Bellevue House, formerly the army commandant’s residence on the new library site, was demolished.
Show all
  1. 1974The predecessor library was expanded, but the added space was quickly outgrown.
  2. 1995A regional committee agreed the new central library should remain downtown.
  3. 2008Regional council approved a new central library.
  4. 2010Schmidt Hammer Lassen of Denmark and Halifax firm Fowler Bauld & Mitchell won the international design competition.
  5. 2012The auditorium was named Paul O’Regan Hall after a $1 million donation from the O’Regan family.
  6. 2014The predecessor library closed on 30 August. The new library opened on 13 December, attended by about 12,000 people, and received a Lieutenant Governor’s Design Award in Architecture.
  7. 2015The library received the Nova Scotia Association of Architects’ Award of Merit.
  8. 2016The library received a Governor General’s Medal in Architecture, the only Atlantic Canadian project among the 12 medalists.

How to get there

  • BusThe library is at 5440 Spring Garden Road, in a walkable district served by several bus routes.
  • BikeOnsite bicycle parking is available.

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair access The building is wheelchair accessible.
  • Lifts Several elevators serve the building.
  • Toilets Gender-neutral toilets are available.

Sources: Halifax Central Library - Wikipedia · Halifax - Wikivoyage (see) · Bibliothèque centrale d'Halifax - Wikipedia · checked 1 Oct 2026

Where
5440 Spring Garden Rd, Halifax

Questions and answers

Is wireless internet available at Halifax Central Library?

Yes, visitors can use wireless internet.

Are there public computers at Halifax Central Library?

The library has 120 public computers.

Are there study rooms at Halifax Central Library?

There are 14 study rooms.

Can I explore local history at Halifax Central Library?

Visitors can browse the local history section.

Does Halifax Central Library host festivals?

It hosted Nocturne and The Word on the Street in its first year.

What building stands next to Halifax Central Library?

The School of Architecture and Planning building stands beside the library.

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