Lou Duggan believed in the power of public libraries to help people learn, connect and build community

Lou Duggan believed in the power of public libraries to help people learn, connect and build community.

Throughout the Halifax native's career, he worked as a librarian at four Nova Scotian universities.

Halifax Public Libraries chief librarian Asa Kachan was a good friend of Duggan's, who lost his life to cancer in 2017.

"In the months preceding his death when he knew how devastating his diagnosis was, he was very intent on using the money he would leave behind to have an impact on his community," she said.

A memorial endowment from Duggan and his family has been used to renovate the Halifax Central Library's creative lab.

With high-end technology, top-of-the-line crafting tools and a kitchen, the Lou Duggan Creative Studio is a place for people to learn about knitting, cooking, gardening, crafting and even 3D printing.

"He wanted to leave meaning behind," Kachan told NEWS 95.7's The Sheldon MacLeod Show. "For Lou, this was an opportunity to create a place where people could get to know one another, could learn something and be inspired."

"It was that idea of planting the seed and sharing knowledge that he got excited about."

Kachan said there's nothing wrong with learning new skills by watching a YouTube video, but it's only a one-way channel.

"When somebody from Japan teaches others in the community how to make sushi within the public space, that's exciting because it's the start of an interesting relationship and a deeper connection with one another in the community," she explained.

In addition to studio upgrades, Duggan's legacy gift has been used to foster the next generation of librarians.

"We have the first two of our Lou Duggan interns," Kachan said. "One is a graduate from a Master of Library and Information Science program and the other is a young engineer."

"So they're going to get their creative minds in for some really interesting learning opportunities for the public."

The official grand opening of the Lou Duggan Creative Studio goes this Saturday, Jan. 18 on the Halifax Central Library's second floor.

It starts at 12:30 p.m. with some remarks about Duggan, followed by fun activities for the whole family, including free craft and technology programming.

"Come on by and try something new," Kachan said. "If you need access to a sewing machine so you can fix your clothes instead of throwing them out, we've got sewing machines."

"It's going to be a great and exciting day for the launch, and it's going to be a great space for the community for a long, long time."

Kachan said the event is free and open to everyone.