Public Engagement
Halifax Public Libraries wants to involve as many people as possible in the public consultation process for the new central library.
In addition to the five large public meetings, Library staff and architects are also meeting with a number of special interest groups to ensure that we are hearing the voices of a wide cross-section of customers and citizens. So far, we have held special focus groups with: African Nova Scotians, cultural organizations, persons with disabilities, First Nations, new Canadians, the literacy and learning community, parents and young children and teens.
Other activities and events:
- We had some help from community youth to do some decorative chalking at the Spring Garden Road branch.
- We invited knitters to create a giant tree cozy for a tree on the future site of the new library.
- We posted 'graffiti walls' in every branch and the Mobile Library to solicit the opinions of all library users. - We took part in the annual Natal Day celebrations in Dartmouth on August 2nd where we encouraged youth to let their creativity run wild. Children were invited to decorate a mock central library. They had a chance to tell us how they like to read, how they like to play and what kinds of games and toys they’d like to see in the new library.
- Community Art Project to Raise Awareness for the Central Library - Halifax Public Libraries teamed with the Nova Scotia Down Syndrome Society to create a community art project on the lawn of the Spring Garden Road Memorial Public Library. Pumpkin People at the Library was constructed on October 23. The concept was to create some community art while promoting the final public consultation meeting in the design phase of the Central Library. A great time was had by all.
- The Library's chalk "Talking Fence", at the construction site for the future Halifax Central Library on the corner of Spring Garden Rd. and Queen St., is generating lots of interest and some inspiring life lessons. Many thanks to Gordon Stevens, Uncommon Group and founder of the I Love Local movement, for the idea, to Co-lab for spearheading the installation, to the Library's teen volunteers for rolling up their sleeves to paint the boards and to Tanya Davis for writing the poem which sets the tone for the project beautifully. It appears people are ripe for a collective learning space and a place to engage. This bodes well for the future of our new Central Library. The Talking Fence gets Halifax talking - CBC
The Library's chalk "Talking Fence"
Pumpkin People at the Library
Decorative Chalking
Tree Cozy Knit In
