Funding announced for new Halifax library

The federal, provincial and municipal governmentsannounced on Monday a funding plan for a new library in central Halifax.

The Halifax Central Libraryis toreplace the aging building on Spring Garden Road, and include a larger book collection, more study rooms and a 250-seat auditorium.

It's expected to cost $55 million.

The federal governmentsaid it wouldcover one-third ofthe cost, up to $18.3 million. The funding is contingent on the projectmeeting all the requirements of the Building Canada Fund anda signed contribution agreement with the province.

The Nova Scotia governmentis expected to contribute $13 million, with the Halifax Regional Municipality putting in $23.7 million.

The 109,000-square-footlibrary is to go up on the corner of Spring Garden Road and Queen Street, less than a block from the Spring Garden Road Memorial Library.

It's being touted as a new attraction for tourists and way to revive the downtown area.

The Spring Garden Road Memorial Library opened in 1951 and is the largest branch in the region, with more than 228,000 titles. It opened as a memorial to the city's casualties in the First World War and Second World War.