Antigonish Town and County Library

Current Library

Current Library

The need for a new public library was identified by the Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library Board, the Town of Antigonish, the Municipality of the County of Antigonish, the Friends of Antigonish Library (a citizen’s interest group), and confirmed by several public surveys. The current public library space of 1300 square feet does not meet the Nova Scotia Department of Education Standards for Nova Scotia Public Libraries. The Standards require an average square footage of 13,500 for a population size such as Antigonish (2006 Census – 18,836). The current facility is not accessible to those with disabilities, does not have room for a standard collection of materials, has very little study or reading space, and does not have programming facilities.

The current Community Access Program (CAP) site, in the public library, has two public computers. CAP sites serving a comparable population have a minimum of 12 public access computers, room for users to deploy their own laptops and mobile devices, an extended wireless area, peripheral equipment and printing, room for one-on-one and small group training, and the space to take on youth employment and community technology projects. Also, Antigonish CAP needs a central location to better support neighbouring county CAP sites.