Protesters have lined up rows of white crosses in front of Mount Allison University’s Memorial Library as a silent demonstration aimed at saving the 84-year-old building.

The library, which was built in 1927 to honour students and graduates who died in the First World War, is on the chopping block.

The university, located in Sackville, is looking to tear down the vacant building and replace it with a $30-million centre for the fine and performing arts.

It is estimated that preserving the library, which has been vacant for three years, would cost $5 million.

The protesters contend the building is too important to demolish. They say the white crosses that they’ve placed in front of the building, which include the names and ages of those killed in the First World War, put a human face on the issue.

The future of the building will be raised at the university’s board of regents meetings on Friday.

The red sandstone building was used as a library until the 1970s. It was then revamped to serve as the student centre and became a campus hub, housing the student union, radio station.

The university has said it has a compromise agreement, which will see parts of the main entrance saved to be used as a backdrop for an outdoor theatre.