Tag Archives: library

The People’s Place

A great place to start your exploration of downtown Antigonish is to drop into The People’s Place – Antigonish Town and County Library on Main Street.   This is a hub of community life in Antigonish.

The Bistro Area displays art where you can sit and relax, read the newspaper and enjoy your drink or snack that you bring in with you.  Find tourism information and maps on the area, play a board game or chat with friends.  If you have small children, enjoy the children’s room with books, toys and games.

Ask the friendly library staff any questions.  They are a wealth of information.  Public computers are available for you to go online. Check the meeting board for what’s on that day.  There are often films, lectures and activities open to the public.

Check the big bulletin board at the entrance for posters on what’s on in and around town.

Sit and chat by the fireplace or read the wide variety of magazines.

The People’s Place is a great place to meet the locals, join in on activities or just sit back and relax and read or study on your own.

For more information

See hours, programming and contact information

Antigonish Town and County Library “The People’s Place” http://parl.ns.ca/locations/antigonish.php
283 Main St. Antigonish, NS B2G 2C3

 

New People’s Place Library

 

 

WOW –  by 5PM today “more than 5,000 people had come through the doors” of the new People’s Place Library in Antigonish according to Eric Stackhouse, Chief Librarian of Pictou – Antigonish Regional Library.  This new happening place on Main Street was buzzing with excitement as people had the opportunity to explore all the nooks and crannies of the building.

People of all ages from toddlers up to seniors all found something just made to order for them – in the children’s room toddlers were listening to a story and looking at the picture book, in another corner two children were putting on a puppet show for their younger sister, other children were admiring the large fish tank.

All over the building there is a variety of beautiful and colorful art work – pennants hanging from the ceiling, paintings displayed in the windows, a beautiful circular stained glass interior window, a huge fireplace with welcoming arm chairs and a carved sculpture mantle, a loom with a resident weaver who will be weaving on site over the next few months, a curving stone bench near the entrance way that reminds you of the sea, and a great mural above the reception desk.

People were lined up to get a library card, check out books and ask questions from the helpful staff.  The staff have been eagerly awaiting their chance to move into this new building which is a dream come true for many who have worked in cramped and difficult conditions for years.

ACALA – the  Antigonish County Adult Learning Association, and Health Connections now have their new home here.  There are study carrels that are perfect for quiet study of for 2 or 3 people to work together.  A large meeting room with a folding door that opens out into the community kitchen, and a small meeting room setup with a multimedia system, whiteboard and work group tables will be perfect for smaller meetings.  There are several areas that are inviting to sit and read or chat or work on a project together.   Computer workstations are available – or you can bring your own computer for the WiFi free area.

Although the outside area is not fully complete you can walk between College Street and the Post Office and when this is fully paved the outside area will be inviting with its patios and  views of Brierly Brook.

Congratulations and thank you to everyone on the tremendous effort that went into the planning and implementation of this new community area on Main Street – the Antigonish Town and County Library – indeed The People’s Place.  It looks like it will become a hub of traffic and interest right in the centre of Antigonish and has opportunities for people of all ages.

Here are a few photos from the opening day – May 24, 2011

Articles

Library Has Room To Spare.  Halifax Chronicle Herald

Enjoy a Day at the Halifax Waterfront

Halifax Waterfront

You can easily spend a day – or if you have just a few hours you can make a shorter version of this inexpensive way to enjoy the Halifax harbour and its many attractions.  It has something for everyone young or old.

Along the Halifax Boardwalk

Along the Halifax Boardwalk

The Boardwalk on the Halifax side of the harbour stretches from Pier 21 on the South end to the Casino on the North end.  As you walk along you will enjoy the view of the boats and ships on this largest xx …    Many visitors to Halifax arrive via cruise ships and to boardwalk is a great way to experience the historical side of Halifax, enjoy the harbour views and have many places to drop in and shop or enjoy a meal. Be sure to wear good walking shoes and dress in layers even on a sunny day.

The Farmer’s Market near Pier 21 is open daily and has a huge selection of produce but also arts and crafts, baked goods and much more.  Great place to browse or buy.

There is a large Tourist Information Centre with lots of brochures, maps and

Halifax Waterfront

friendly people to advise on where to go and what to see throughout Nova Scotia.  It’s a great place to help in planning your visit.

If you are interested in history, Pier 21 is the Museum of Immigration.  So many people entered Canada through Pier 21 and the exhibits are interesting to give us a view of our history.  The Maritime Museum includes both small and large craft, boat building, sailing, the Titanic explosion in Halifax.

There is plenty of shopping and browsing along the route if you are so inclined.  Nova Scotia crafts, salt water taffy, t-shirts and souvenirs.

The restaurants and snack places are dotted along the route with upscale dining, and family style restaurants as well as take outs if you wish to enjoy your lunch out of doors along the boardwalk.   The small parks along the way have seating or you can perch on the wooden

Ferry Trip

One of my favourite things to do is to take the ferry from Halifax to Dartmouth.  This is the poor man’s harbour cruise.  For $ 1.50 (senior) or $ 2.50 (adult) you can buy a ticket that takes you from the Halifax Ferry terminal to Alderney Landing in Dartmouth. Sit up on

Halifax McDonald Bridge at night from the ferry

Halifax McDonald Bridge at night from the ferry - Time lapse photo

the upper deck and enjoy the activities in the harbour, see the two bridges spanning and joining these two cities.   The ferry system is part of the Halifax Metro transport system.  So you can even use your ticket to get on a bus on the other side.  Or you can enjoy walking around the Alderney Landing area, have a snack or browse and then hop back on the ferry within a 2 hour limit and use the same ticket!

Nighttime also gives a spectacular view of the skyline of Halifax and the bridges.  Best on a clear night and be sure to wrap up warmly.

Dartmouth Waterfront

The Dartmouth side of the harbour gives you a great view of the Halifax skyline.  On the weekend you can visit the Farmers Market.  The Alderney Landing Library is just a few steps away and you can drop in to relax and read a magazine or look at the views of the waterfront from the upper floors.

Alderney Landing Dartmouth

Alderney Landing Dartmouth

If you are in the mood for more walking take a right from the Alderney Landing along the waterfront and follow the path.  This leads over a small bridge which is the beginning of the Shubenacadie Canal.  There are several museums and heritage sites in the vicinity well worth visiting including Evergreen House – the Dartmouth Heritage Museum.  They have “high tea” several afternoons a week.  Check their website for timings.

 

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Map

Click on the map to get bus transit details and to zoom in on the route.  The route shown uses Lower Water street – but just head towards the water to get on the boardwalk at any point.


View Larger Map

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Useful Links

 

I Love the Library

I must confess that I actually AM a librarian by profession but it has been many years since I have worked in a library or had much to do with libraries in the past 15 years or so.

Pictou Antigonish Regional Library - Online

Pictou Antigonish Regional Library - Online

Now I am newly in love with libraries having registered and got my library card at the Antigonish Regional Library.  I am just thrilled with the range of materials even though the current library has a very tiny collection of books.  The selection is well thought out and given the restricted space has some wonderful finds.

Since it is part of the Nova Scotia system – you have access to a much largerpool of books that are brought in on request from other libraries in the province.  Now also you can go online and browse, renew your books and look for reviews and descriptions and do searches.

You can even borrow magazines – which will saveyou a PILE of money instead

Pictou Antigonish Regional Library Features

Pictou Antigonish Regional Library Features

of purchasing them.   Crafters, nature lovers, news hounds, cooks and teens will all find something to interest them.  Login using your library card and browse through online magazine articles using specific search terms.  This is a terrific resource when researching a topic or looking for more information on your area of interest.

Antigonish Town Hall Main Street

The Library is behind the Antigonish Town Hall Main Street

The current Antigonish Library is a tiny 2 room location just behind the Old Town Hall.  In a couple of months they will be moving into the new “People’s Place” on Main Street which will house not only the library but also community rooms, meeting places, art exhibits and much more.  Everyone is looking forward to the new location and facilities.  The community has been very supportive in the “Adopt a Book” for the new collection with over 1000 items being purchased for the new library location.

Antigonish Library

Antigonish Library

I recently attended an evening meeting that reviewed different eBook readers and a demonstration of how to download eBooks and Audio Books from the library to your reader or computer.  There is a growing collection of materials online available for this popular new format.

The library caters to different interest groups and has activities for seniors, teens, young children, business and naturalists.  Check out the online site for details.

Having recently downsized into a smaller apartment but loving to read the library is a great way to read and browse books without having to wonder where to store them.

If you live in or near Antigonish be sure to drop in – otherwise check in your own area to visit your local library.   Libraries have continued to grow in the services they offer to the community. And the price is right !

For the traveler the library can be a great place to check out local information, what’s happening in the area, and to access the Internet while you are traveling.