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As if everyone wasn’t already sickeningly in love with the new Halifax Central Library, they’ve gone and announced that for the rest of December any outstanding fines from overdue items will be cleared.
Starting this Saturday, December 13, anyone with a library card can visit any public library and erase their debt. It’s part of what Halifax Public Libraries is calling “Welcome Back to the Library Days.”
“As we increase our collection for Halifax Central Library, we want to make sure that all citizens have access to it,” CEO and chief librarian Åsa Kachan says in a release. “It is a festive time with the opening of Central Library and the holidays, and we want everyone from Sheet Harbour to Hubbards to feel a part of the excitement.”
Aside from forgiving all old and new fines, there will be no new fines issued during the campaign. Anyone who’s held onto a library item can also return it free of charge and finally clear their guilty conscience.
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The $57.6-million Halifax Central Library will finally open its doors this Saturday. It will feature books, movies, a gaming centre, a performance theatre, soundproof recording and editing studios and a cafe. All for the price of a library card, which is also free for the next 19 days.Â
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This article appears in Dec 4-10, 2014.
Thank you I will have a bit of extra cash for bus fare
“All for the price of a library card, which is also free for the next 19 days.”
So, we have to pay for a library card now?
I don’t think we do, Stacey Crowell. I just applied for a new card and nowhere on the application form does it say you will ever have to provide payment. You just need two pieces of ID and live in Nova Scotia.
As a new user, you never pay for a library card in HRM. The waved charge refers to the standard $2 replacement fee for lost cards.
It was always $10 for a card.
What probably happened is a computer system upgrade and they couldn’t figure out how to move the fines over.
Its not a bug its a feature!
Library cards are always free! It’s only the $2 replacement charge being waived.
Uberwench et al are correct. No one is charged for getting a new library card. The fee comes when you need or want to replace it. There are some library systems who do charge, but not Halifax’s.
I kept asking them on twitter if they were going to do this but they kept ignoring me.
Damn, and like a sucker I’ve kept my fines under the max.
Well, I have my card and don’t have any late fees anyway…..just wondering…
Cards are free! I just went a few weeks ago and got me for my kids. $2 replacement fee if card is misplaced!
As the coast says ‘Damn’ their loving ways. Out here in Musquodoboit Harbour it is hard to ‘love’ the new library when our services are cut (restored to an earlier time frame but still many hours unopened), hand me downs of furniture and books we are supposed to be grateful for, and failure to hire a local person for an opening. Rather -nice as she is- a person from the city. The city tends to suck us dry, either by ignoring our needs or funneling intended monies or equipment to the city. The oval being an good example. One city Councillor told me that it was ‘sad’ that I didn’t always want to make a trip into the city to enjoy amenities. The council tends to act as if our rural area is here only for them to use.
What a waste of the peoples money. Why does the Government and Companies think they need to put up such elaborate building. With the economy as it is I just think it could have been spent in more efficient ways to help the people.
had a tour and it is amazing… we are so lucky to have access to this beautiful place and all the hard working caring people who work there and volunteer… don’t go to chapters, you can sit around and drink coffee and look at magazines, take them home if you want, copy stuff, play games, video and board games, instead of complaining, go check it out, and, we will have it for us, our kids, our grandkids and future generations.. great place for children to go get lost in a good book.
I owe 9,75$ at this moment in late fees……. They will really erase that from my account???
Although the cost of the building is quit expensive and the money could’ve been spread around for other just as important things or to up grade many of the other library’s, along with the fact that the building has a such a unnecessary design to it might as well use it now that we have it.
There are plenty of good points about the building. 40% more books lots of stimulating items for children and plenty of computers for those who need them.. a recording studio, amphitheater, DVD’s, Blue Ray’s, Magazines, plenty of staff to help answer questions and …books lots and lots of books…
New patrons never pay to get a library card. There is a $2 fee for adult replacement cards and a $1 fee for children and youth replacement cards. Children and youth get their first replacement free. Sounds pretty fair to me, and as I always say, if you use it right the library is entirely free of charge!
Why is this building ”Magnificent” but a seven storey condo is ”monolithic, overpowering”
19 days? ??? It is Jan 23 now. How much is it to get a Hfx Lib card at the new Lib?
And does one have to pay their old fines before getting a new card?
And if I had a card from 10 yrs ago, can I still get a new card?
Or do I need a replacement card?
But most of all, are fines still forgiven???
Thanks.