Everyone is Welcome: Halifax Central Library Achieved RHFAC Gold
"Public libraries are one of the few places where anyone can go and stay all day. People need to be able to use the space, feel comfortable and have everything they need. It all comes back to the space.”
This past August, the Halifax Central Library achieved Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility CertificationTM (RHFAC) Gold.
Built 10 years ago, the building was of great excitement to the local community when it opened to the public.
“When Central Library was built, it really excited the whole city,” Megan Gainer, Director of Facilities at Halifax Public Libraries, explained. “It was a huge source of civic pride, and it made everyone want to come out and see it.”
Getting Certified
The library wasn't considering certification until Gainer started her role as Director of Facilities two years ago.
“I spent a lot of time at the library both before and after I began the job,” Gainer said. “I thought this has the potential to be certified.”
Gainer, as a licensed architect and someone living with a disability herself, first learned about RHFAC when she was a member of Nova Scotia’s Accessibility Advisory Committee, working on the Built Environment Standards Development Committee.
Working in this setting and learning about RHFAC motivated her to take RHFAC Professional Training and “get certified as quickly as possible.”
The RHFAC Professional Training course teaches individuals how to use the RHFAC methodology to rate buildings on their level of meaningful access. Upon successful completion and passing the subsequent RHFAC Professional exam, individuals will obtain their RHFAC Professional designation, qualifying them to conduct RHFAC ratings for existing buildings and pre-construction plans.
With this knowledge base, when she began at the library, she realized just how accessible the space is and decided to begin the rating process. One of her staff members took RHFAC Professional Training as well, and the two of them undertook the project together.
“It was already quite accessible,” Gainer explained. While they did add a fully accessible universal washroom and a few other elements to improve the accessibility, the building was already in a good spot. “It went beyond the built environment as well, it already had sensory design, staff training and programs that sought to make the space more accessible.”
The library achieved RHFAC Gold, scoring 84% on the rating scorecard.
“I thought this project could be a good pilot and to get Halifax Public Libraries’ feet wet in RHFAC,” Gainer explained. “We started by provided training to one member of the Facilities team to understand accessibility further, and now we are in the process of sending more staff to RHFAC Professional Training so we can put all the learnings into practice.”
Beyond the built environment itself, the library has over half a million accessible titles across their branches, providing options in Braille, and large print. The libraries also provide access to screen readers and accessible technology on the computers to assist everyone in navigating the space.
Halifax Public Libraries is a network of 14 libraries, and starting with Central Library is just the first step in their accessibility journey.
Accessibility is Beautiful
“What Central Library did for Halifax is change the way people view architecture and design. It showed that a building can be beautiful and cutting edge in terms of accessibility at the same time.” Gainer said.
The building is a modern structure with a glass facade. Even a decade after its construction, the building is still a stunning landmark in a historic city. Gainer is proud of what this building has done in terms of shifting mindsets.
“Usually when people think of universal design, there is a myth that it is very institutional,” Gainer said. “But as more and more people come here to socialize, browse, or bring family, and everyone can comfortably and independently navigate the space, it opens doors to what accessibility can be.”
A Culture of Inclusion
The library is so much more than a space to come borrow books. It is a place for anyone to come, feel safe, gather and enjoy all the programming options available. Halifax Public Libraries provide staff with training on accessibility, first aid, nonviolent crisis intervention and mental health first aid, among others. The goal is to create a space where everyone can come no matter what.
“If you want people to come and stay, and take advantage of everything we have, space is critical,” Gainer said. “People need to be able to use the space, feel comfortable, and have everything they need. The programs and people can be great, but if the space is no good, people aren’t going to come.”
Gainer said of accessibility, “I think of accessibility as the ability for everyone to feel welcome and safe and at home in a space.”
