Central Library Open!

Thank you for following along with our Central Library blog as this project has unfolded.

Work is continuing on the landscaping outside the building along Queen Street and Ahren Street, and also in our new courtyard.

With the exception of a few finishing touches, the interior of the building is complete and we are open to the public!

We hope you’ve had a chance to stop in, visit your new space, and check out all the amazing new resources. If not, please plan to visit soon. We’d love to see you and hear what you think of your new Central Library.

An official grand opening ceremony is scheduled for September 6, including opening speeches, kid’s activities, entertainment and performances. We hope you can join us.

There will be no more updates on this blog, but please follow us on Twitter and Facebook, subscribe to our monthly newsletters, and keep an eye on headlines on the Kitchener Public Library home page for all the latest news and events.

And again, thank you for your incredible support throughout the Central Library project. We couldn’t have done it without you. 

Our fabulous atrium space

Our spacious reading lounge

Mayor Carl Zehr sharing a good read

Admiring our public art installation - "Flux"

Central Library Reopening!

Our four-year project is quickly coming to a close! We’re dusting shelves, moving furniture, and unpacking new items for the collection. We anticipate reopening the new Central Library on Tuesday, May 27th.




New space. New name.


That’s right, the Main Library is no more. Our newly renovated and expanded library at 85 Queen Street North is now officially known as “Central Library.”


When we reopen, the Central Library’s public entrance will once again be on Queen Street, with a 24/7 return slot located along Ahrens Street. Entrance to the library is also available directly from our shared underground parking garage. Due to reconstruction work on Ahrens Street, access to the return slot on the Ahrens Street side of the building is available only via Queen Street.


Landscaping work around our property will continue into the summer, and we’re making plans for an official building dedication ceremony on Saturday, September 6th. Watch our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter for details. We built this library for you, so we hope you can celebrate with us!


Visit the 85 Queen Street North location soon and rediscover your fabulous new library!




Here are just a few notable features of the new Central Library:


• A two-storey atrium flooded with natural light. This atrium serves as the hub for Central Library, with an information desk, circulation desk and four new self-serve checkout stations.


• Flux, a spectacular public art installation in our atrium. This hanging art is reminiscent of book pages scattered in mid-air, symbolizing change and transformation.


• Two-storey glass curtain along the front façade, creating an expanded reading lounge with comfortable seating and a laptop bar looking out over Queen Street.


• A Children’s Library, with heated floors, bright, durable furniture, interactive literacy activities, and more space for collections. There’s even a dedicated programming space just for kids.


• Entrance to the Children’s Library is marked by a fully interactive feature wall, custom designed by the Burgeon Group and featuring quilt squares, buttons and maple leaves as symbols of our community and country.


• A multi-media resource centre and digital media lab conveniently located on the ground floor. Library customers will be able to use the media lab to create music tracks or convert old film to digital formats. There’s even a 3D printer!


• More computers for public use; increased from 55 to 84.


• A refurbished 200-seat theatre with new projection room and accessible seating. The theatre will be home to large Kitchener Public Library events, and is also available for rent.


• Modern, refurbished meeting and program rooms, also available for rent, with accommodation for groups of 20 to 150.


• 412-space underground parking garage, with access from Queen Street and Otto Street – elevator directly to the ground floor of Central Library.


• Our renovated building meets or exceeds all accessibility requirements, and anticipates AODA changes in years to come.


We’re excited about the future of Kitchener Public Library, and hope you are too!

Main Library Temporary Closure

Construction and renovation work on our Central Library project is nearing completion!

In order to accommodate the reconfiguration of our new spaces, the Main Library at 85 Queen Street North will temporarily close on or about March 23, 2014 for approximately 2 months.

For the period of this closure, a temporary library offering selected services will be available for our downtown customers. 

• Located at 607 King Street West (in the plaza at the corner of King St. and Breithaupt St.)
• Open regular library hours, including Sundays from 1 – 5 pm
• Featuring popular collections of books and DVDs for all ages
• Holds pick-up
• Free parking
• No after-hours book drop; but book drop at 85 Queen St. library location will remain open

Our four Community Libraries will remain open as usual during this temporary closure.  In addition, our Forest Heights Library will also be open on Sundays from 1 – 5 pm during the temporary Main Library closure. Library members can borrow and return materials to any Kitchener Public Library location.

We’re almost there!    The reopening of the library following this closure will mark the long-awaited transformation of our old Main Library into our new Central Library.
We want to thank all library users for their patience and support throughout

Project Update

Our shared underground parking garage is finished!  There are now over 400 parking spaces.  Drive into the garage from Queen Street or Otto Street.  Ahrens Street has also been re-opened to the Region of Waterloo building.

The renovation of the original library building is also nearing completion.  All three levels are undergoing extensive refurbishment, including the construction of a new 5,000 square foot addition to the second level of the library. 

As the project winds down, our excitement is building – we can’t wait to show off our fabulous new space!

 

When renovations are done, the Main Library will once again temporarily close so that we can move into the new space. Watch our website or monitor our social media for details.

 

KPL CEO Sonia Lewis with Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr touring renovation site

Main Library Temporary Closure

On Monday, December 23^rd, 2013, the Main Library will be CLOSED until approximately 4:00 pm due to hydro work.  The Main Library will
re-open again from 4:00 to 9:00 pm. 

All four of KPL’s Community Library locations will remain open as usual on December 23^rd.

Due to the disruption of power at the Main Library, the KPL website, catalog, email and telephone switchboard will not be available on Monday, December 23 from approximately 5:30 am until 4:00 pm.