I've had a long love affair with the Alderney Gate library. When I lived in Mount Uniacke, I would…read morepass the Sackville and Bedford libraries, to come here. What's to love? Uh, two floors of bibliographic brilliance and cool community spaces. Let's start with the main floor. You've got DVDs as an 'impulse buy' right there. A well-staffed information desk. Loads of computers. Specialty displays. Lots of comfy chairs to sit and read. The second floor has books for kids and teens. Plus lots of community rooms where cool events are held. My only complaint? While it's great that teens feel welcome, they can be a bit boisterous and staff don't seem inclined to quiet them. The Alderney Gate Library is an essential (and under-valued) part of our community.

I love books. I would read all day if I could! As such, I am rather fond of libraries. The Alderney…read moreGate library is probably my favorite of the many within the HRM. Here's why: - Two floors of literary goodness, which means a massive selection of everything. - Plenty of computers. - All the children's stock is upstairs, which means that adults can browse in relative peace and quiet downstairs (huge plus for me). - Loads of toys, games, and play areas upstairs for the kids. - Lots and lots of windows. - Knowledgeable staff. There is but one negative attribute to this library: it is really, really difficult to get into unless you are walking or busing it. The parking lot is almost always filled to the brim (the ferry terminal is in the same building), and getting to the library from the rear entrance is a huge hassle. Aside from the parking, the Alderney Gate library is one of HRM's truly fantastic features.

The best value for the money food in Halifax is the day old bread and bakery at the roof top coffee…read moreshop. I was coming from a cruise ship, it was awesome to find a place with free Wi-Fi.

From the perspective of a kids library, this is a really cool space. Great natural lighting. A…read morekids section where you don't feel pressure to hush your kids much at all.

I'm no longer a student, but that doesn't stop me from hiding in the stacks at the Killam, admiring…read morethe vast selection of books. Sometimes I'll head to a section without a particular title in mind, I'll sit on the floor and pull down book after book, reading the summaries, finding out the edition numbers and publication dates... oh the excitement and wonder. The Killam is a drab and dreary old building, having escaped the blessings of the good layout gods and the aesthetic appeal fairies. It's a hideous work of architecture, but one mustn't judge a book by its cover, because after investigating the shelves and shelves of spines, you'll find that this is in fact a gem. Every subject and category is Dewey Decimaled away in this huge building, organized efficiently so that you can find what you're looking for with relative ease. If you're not a student, fear not, for the Killam dishes out borrowers' cards to anyone with identification. This is a great library with a lot of wonderful literature for every reader from A to Z.

As a Dal student, I've spent my fair share of time in the Killam. With printers, computers, and…read moreplenty of space to tuck away and study, it's no wonder that it can be hard to find a spot during midterms and finals. The atrium is my favourite place in the building to work: it's not as dead quiet as the stacks, natural light can come in through the sky lights...and there is a steady stream of coffee and snacks available thanks to the Second Cup, Subway and canteen. The stacks are a little too quiet for me to be very productive, but I know it's a popular haunt for people if they need silence. If you're a bibliophile, spending time in the stacks will make your heart pitter-patter. Of course there are tons of books, but it's that old book smell that will get you. Mmmmm. I don't like the lack of windows in the Killam - good ol' brutalist architecture - but there is definitely something charming about the layout, where everything comes back to the atrium. If you aren't a student I believe they do give out temporary cards to anyone who wishes to take books out, but i've never had to use the service so I can't say for certain.

Nestled into NSCAD's main building is the ever so lovely library. Its been around since the…read moreearliest days of the school's opening, and continues to be a top spot for resourcing the academics of art and beyond. If you've ever been through NSCAD's downtown facilities, you can appreciate its old style aesthetic of uncertain halls, creaking floors and winding stairways. Its all pretty great-- I love the dedication to creative confines. The library follows suit. A wooden desk at the front for signing out and inquiries, 2 floors of literature, tables and computers too. Its a comfy library to browse and with that certain art school flare. (And always such well dressed librarians to check you out... pardon my pun.) With 50,000 books and periodicals in the visual and media arts, craft, fashion, and design, the NSCAD University Library is the primary archive for fine arts and design inquiries. Catalogues, magazines, rare prints and novels regarding creative fields can be found here. Its a great spot to have around. Also noteworthy is the Visual Resources Collection which has over 140,000 slides, as well as 16mm films, DVDs, videos, CDs and audio tapes. Digital images are available through a number of licensed image databases! Its a pool of paradise for those in the field. Located on the first floor, this is a niche library with a whole lot of goodness.

This is where Nova Scotia Assembly Legislature is housed…read more Visitors are welcome. Climb the stairs and enter from Hollis St. Go through security screening & provide government issued ID. We showed our passports. When the Assembly is in session, you're welcome to watch the proceedings. We were able to walk into several different rooms including the library on the 2nd floor. The first floor provided the history of Nova Scotia and some prominent folks. A free thing to do if you're in downtown Halifax.

One part museum, three parts government building and one part landmark. That's Province House…read more I've been to Province House for a number of events - whether it's for a meeting, a governmental announcement, to watch the House sit, a public announcement or just to be a tourist in my own city. An amazing amount of the space is open to the public (after you've gone through a security checkpoint, of course). There's small museum on the main floor and bits of history are everywhere! You can head up to the second level to see the Red Room or the library. Keep going up and you can sit in the gallery and watch the legislature when it's in session. If you live here and never been, you really should go. If you're visiting, you should also check it out. It won't take long - the majority of space is still closed off from the public but it's a good look at our province's democratic past and present. Pro tip: If you're watching the legislature, put your cell phone away. Seriously, the commissionaires are quite serious about that rule. Quite. Serious.

Seems weird to write a review about a library…read more.. I mean it's a building with books. Can't really screw that up I suppose. However this is my neighborhood library and I happen to like it quite a bit. I've got a special place in my heart for the struggling small neighborhood libraries and prefer them over the larger ones in the heart of a city. This one is nestled in the middle of the Gottigen crossroads of lower income families and the large condo corporations trying to push them out and make room for the "it's cool to be Ghetto" upper class citizens. There is nothing fancy about this library. But there is a sense of community when you walk in. People who come here, live here. That's what I like about it. You'll find your selection of books to be a little lacking because of size but with the ability to have books/dvd(s) transferred within a few days it won't take long to get that book you've got on your "must read" list. Computers are available and wifi is free (which is good if you're on a budget and don't have a computer at home). I'm excited about the new library going up in place of the Spring Garden location but Gottigen will always be my favorite.

This library surprised me. I didn't expect such a friendly atmosphere. There are public computers…read morefor the Internet but they also have Wi-Fi which I enjoy! You of course need a library card to use it however. They also have designated hours in the computer lab for adults and designated times for kids which is good. The kids time is 3pm-6pm and the adults is, well, every other place. The most unique part about this library in particular is that it has a large section of African American history, especially local history. So they support community history which is very important and something I don't see enough of in my library travels. But the place also feels like a community. There are "regulars" that definitely go there all the time because everyone seems to know each other. The staff are generally quite friendly and definitely very helpful as well. This library has everything you'd expect but also supports community history which surprised me. They have a friendly, supportive atmosphere and more than enough to keep me interested. If you are in the area, stop on by.

I'm surprised there aren't yet any reviews on this library! It's definitely lesser-known and harder…read moreto get to, but the selection is mind-boggling compared to the Spring Garden Public Library. There's three floors of awesomeness to be found here, freshly renovated and ready for you. The first is the entrance, with a ton of study spaces and meeting places, comfy chairs, and a little coffee shop right next to it. You don't need a library card to get in, and I'll talk more about that in a minute. On the first floor, there's a sizeable reference section with every government document you could need, religious texts, and hey, Writer's Markets galore (just a hint...). Lots of magazines are available, too -- back issues are on the third floor. Public computers are against the wall just around the corner from the checkout desk, though depending on the time of day you visit, it might be hard to get one. Finally, there's a rack in the corner where they display new acquisitions, which is always worth checking out. The second floor has books, books, glorious books. Social sciences, history, and generally interesting topics that you don't have to be an academic nerd to appreciate are all here. On the third floor, you'll find hard sciences (math, physics, nerd heaven...) and the journals. Ever wanted to see what the New York Times Book Review looked like on the day you were born? Have fun! The second and third floors are quiet zones. No loud whispers or talking. Seriously. Kangaroo courts are real. You can eat and drink and sleep there if you like, though! There's lots of desks and even some comfy chairs hidden away on the third floor in particular. If you're not a SMU student and don't have access to the wireless, you can use the free library computers I mentioned earlier or take an internet-free break from life. :) Now, the sticky issue of library cards and "but I'm not a SMU student!". Check out their circulation policies here: http://www.smu.ca/administration/library/documents/PoliciesCirculation.pdf "Students, staff and faculty at all Nova Scotia post-secondary libraries, some high school students, and adult members of the general public are eligible for borrowing privileges at the Patrick Power Library. Most of those associated with universities and colleges automatically have borrowing rights; other categories of borrowers must apply for privileges. In most cases, members of the public need only present an official picture ID, such as a driver's license, for privileges to be granted right away." "Our general loan period is three weeks for books, and one week for periodicals..." "Once borrowed, an item may be returned to most post-secondary libraries and any public library in Nova Scotia." You're welcome. :D

Believe it or not, if you're Dal student, it doesn't mean you have to whine and complain about…read morehaving to just choose among the host Dal libraries to go to to study. You should consider SMU's Patrick Power library or even the public libraries. But if you're living just along Inglis St. and getting to Dal is inconvenient, then, consider Patrick Power. Personally, as CS student I find their selection of print materials more extensive than that of Dal's. I can't say much about their electronic selection as I have no access to it. But then again, I like their space and setup which is smaller and easier to get to the books I need to get to as oppose to the massive building such Killam library. After the recent renovations and interior uplift, you probably would agree with me that the PPL is really more comfortable and inviting for students spend their time focusing on their studies. I also like how they provide more cubicles in the quiet study floor as oppose how limited cubicles are in Killam. Worried about power sockets? You need not, although its still not as much as I would like it to be, there's definitely more than the other library. So you can plan accordingly and sit at one of the many spots close to a power socket. Last but not least, even if you're not a student of SMU, as long as your university is a member of Eduroam, you can use the internet there. Yes! that's right SMU is a member of Eduroam too so, you can easily use the internet connection. Just check with the tech guy on the 1st to find out how to.

The Keshen Goodman library is absolutely amazing. Lots of natural light, windowseats built along…read morethe entire front of the building and a hefty inventory of all sorts of books to steal your time. The Keshen Goodman library is located adjacent to the new Mainland Commons sports structure. There is ample parking and self-scan checkouts, all of which combine to make your time as enjoyable and productive as possible. Metro Transit also has bus stops just outside on both sides of the street, so commuting sans car is a breeze. This library branch also sponsors evening seminars and public-interest talks; check out the website for details on upcoming events.

I don't generally visit this library since it's quite far from home, but a couple years ago I…read morefrequented the Keshen Goodman every week for tutoring sessions. My experiences at this library have generally been disappointing for the following reasons: - It is EXTREMELY loud. Despite the vastness of this building, you will be hard-pressed to find a truly quiet area to read/work/study. My student and I often met just after school got out or after suppertime, and many extracurricular clubs seem to use the centrally located conference rooms at these times. The problem? The doors are wide open, meaning all can hear the excited shouting and clamoring of the club members. The cafe down the hall also contributes to the noise. - Inadequate study areas. Some may disagree with me on this point, but I have never had an easy time finding a quiet, private area in this library. - So-so selection. This has undoubtedly changed in the past year (I hope). With that being said, the architecture of the Keshan Goodman is interesting and does allow for a great deal of natural light. Perhaps I'll drop by the next time I'm in the area to see whether conditions have improved.