MH35 group reveals new plans for library in public information sessions

In the first of several public information sessions held today in Moncton, MH35 presented its updated plans for the former Moncton High School.

MH Renaissance Inc., or MH35, is the group hoping to turn the old Moncton High School into an arts and cultural centre.

READ MORE: Future of former Moncton High School still undecided

The group’s idea of moving the city library from its current location in Moncton’s downtown core to a refurbished 81-year-old school has been the source of some controversy.

“We just met with the library this morning so we have not heard their reaction yet,” MH35 President Dennis Cochrane said Tuesday.

Share this on X Click to share quote on X: "We just met with the library this morning so we have not heard their reaction yet," MH35 President Dennis Cochrane said Tuesday.

Cochrane says after the meeting with library officials, who were against the move, MH35 had an architect alter the layout of the proposed space to better accommodate the library’s needs.

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Former Moncton High librarian, Catherine Cox attended the information sessions to see the latest plans. She thinks the proposal is a good option for expanding the library.

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“With the renovations that they are planning it’s lovely. They fill in the quad and make a big new square space you can see — there is lots of room for a library, the children’s library at the present library isn’t big enough.”

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Cox says having the library in the old, historic building would add charm to the library space, comparing it to Harry Potter’s School of Hogwarts.

“It’s a stone building with nooks and crannies and little windows to sit in,” she said.

MH35 claims it will cost the library the same amount of money to operate out of the former school, however the library board claims it will cost more.

READ MORE: Plans brewing for future use of old Moncton High School

Moncton’s new mayor, Dawn Arnold, who sat on the library board, has said publicly that she is not convinced the library should move. Dawn wasn’t available for comment Tuesday.

“We have said to the city all along, ‘if you don’t want to put the library there, what other space do you have that you could possibly move in?'” Cochrane said.