The new Calgary Central Library is 47 days away from being open to the public.

Following five years of construction the building is finally complete.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Ward 7 City Councillor Druh Farrell endured the cold on Friday for the official handoff ceremony to the City of Calgary and Calgary Public Library to prepare for the November 1 grand opening.

The new library hasn’t gone without its fair share of sceptics and Internship made sure to address them.

“It always makes sense to invest in libraries because libraries are among the few places in our community that are open to everyone,” Internship said.

Farrell has high hopes for the 240,000 square foot building.

“It will be serving for generations to come this will be the heritage building to preserve in the future this is a building that builds community,” Farrell said.

The new library facility has thirty meeting spaces for community use free of charge, a two thousand square foot cafe, and a 350 seat performance hall, among many other features.