About The Library
Press Releases 
Press Releases
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JM Drama Donates Theatre Proceeds to Support Local Family Literacy Initiative
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New Online Catalogue Empowers Library Users to Share Their Reading Opinions
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Speical Library Closure - Staff Professional Development Day
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Update: Detour at Country Hills - in effect until September 2, 2011
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Lyle S. Hallman Foundation Supports Central Library Fundraising Campaign
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2010 Dorothy Shoemaker Literary Awards Contest: Winners Announced
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Library Offers Free Online Access to International Newspapers
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Governor General Award-Winning Author Kenneth Oppel is 2011 Writer-in-Residence
Freegal Update
More free music… what could be better!
Freegal Music offers you songs from Sony Music Entertainment that you can download for FREE!
We’ve recently increased the number of songs that you can download using Freegal to 3 songs per week. There is also no limit to the total number of songs downloaded over time. ALL cardholders can download 3 songs per week every week. For a family of four, this can mean 12 songs per week. These songs have no Digital Management Rights restrictions and are yours to keep.
Downloading music from Freegal is easy, so give it a try if you haven’t already. Find the Download Centre on KPL’s website at: www.kpl.org/ebranch/download.html.
Great tip:
If every member of your family does not already have their own library card – they should! The 3 song per week download limit is per library card. A family of four could download up to 12 songs per week! Now if only the dog could get a library card!
December 17, 2011
Holiday Hours at KPL
All KPL locations will close at 1:00 PM on Saturday, December 24, and will remain closed Sunday, December 25 (Christmas Day), Monday, December 26 (Boxing Day) and Tuesday, December 27.
Regular hours will resume at all locations from Wednesday, December 28 - Friday, December 30.
All KPL locations will close at 1:00 PM on Saturday, December 31, and will remain closed Sunday, January 1 (New Year's Day) and Monday, January 2nd. Regular hours will resume at all locations on Tuesday, January 3.
Date |
Holiday Hours |
|---|---|
Saturday, December 24 |
All locations close at 1:00 pm |
Sunday, December 25 |
All locations closed (Christmas Day) |
Monday, December 26 |
All locations closed (Boxing Day) |
Tuesday, December 27 |
All locations closed |
Wednesday, December 28 |
All locations open 9:30 am - 9:00 pm |
Thursday, December 29 |
All locations open 9:30 am - 9:00 pm |
Friday, December 30 |
All locations open 9:30 am - 5:30 pm |
Saturday, December 31 |
All locations close at 1:00 pm |
Sunday, January 1, 2012 |
All locations closed (New Year's Day) |
Monday, January 2, 2012 |
All locations closed |
For further information about library hours, please visit our Hours & Locations page.
November 12, 2011
Library Offers New Language-Learning Computer Program
Kitchener Public Library has recently purchased access rights to a great new product to assist customers wanting to learn a new language. Transparent Languages offers study tutorials in over 70 languages, and includes these learning-enhanced features:
• 33 lessons for each language covering a variety of topics ranging from easier to more difficult
• pronunciation and conversation practice
• alphabets of different languages
• language and culture blogs
• proficiency tests
One of the more exciting features of this new database is its ability to assist our English as a Second Language (ESL) customers and new Canadians learn English. In fact, this product was purchased with these customers in mind.
Transparent Languages is available through our library website under the Research Database list. The database can be used from any Internet enabled computer terminal in the library, or from your personal Internet-connected computer when outside the library. Simply go to the Transparent Lanaguages database, create your own personal profile (for free), and you're ready to start learning!
Click here to explore Transparent Langagues right now!
November 4, 2011
Annual Public Library Survey Week
The annual Ministry of Tourism and Culture's public library survey week is scheduled for the week of Sunday November 6 – Saturday November 12, 2011.
Once again, Kitchener Public Library will be counting all in-house use of library material. Signs will be posted throughout our libraries, but we ask customers to please not put away any library material that they use that week.
Of course, items that are checked out are counted automatically by our computer system, but materials that customers have used in the library are not. We can’t count it if we don’t know you’ve used it! Just leave whatever you’ve used on a table, chair, counter, floor, etc (ok, maybe not the floor) and we’ll count it an put it away.
Learn more about the Ministry of Tourism and Culture annual public library survey week at:
www.mtc.gov.on.ca/en/libraries/statistics.shtml
October 31, 2011
Planned Power Outage
There will be a scheduled construction-related power shutdown on Thursday, November 3rd and Friday, November 4th from 4:00 am to 8:30 am.
During this time, there will be no access to the following services at all KPL locations:
* KPL website
* KPL telephone system
* KPL TelRenew system
* KPL catalogue (including placing online holds & renewals)
This work has been scheduled to minimize the impact of any service disruptions to our library customers.
All KPL locations will open as usual at 9:30 am on both mornings.
October 18, 2011
JM Drama Donates Theatre Proceeds to Support Local Family Literacy Initiative
This past summer, JM Drama presented the hit musical The 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee. This whimsical comedy by Rachel Sheinkin and William Finn incorporated musical interludes and impromptu audience participation ... to the delight of the audience, the cast and the participants.
Founded in 1983, JM Drama has established a long history in Waterloo Region of supporting the local performing arts and their community. Since 2008, JM Drama has been donating a portion of their performance ticket sales to a local community initiative. This year, JM Drama donated $2,084 from the“25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” performance to the Region-wide family literacy initiative, Let’s Read.
Launched in 2009, Let's Read is a family literacy initiative designed to get the families of Waterloo Region reading . . . reading the same book, reading together as a family, and reading together as a community. "Literacy is fundamental to an engaged community and to the long term growth of the arts, which is why JM Drama is pleased to support this important project" said Don Bourgeois, President of JM Drama.
Each year one Canadian book written at the grade 3 or 4 reading level is selected for local families to read and enjoy together. This year the selected book is “The Farm Team”, by Linda Bailey.
The Let's Read initiative is a partnership with the Kitchener Public Library, Waterloo Public Library, Cambridge Libraries and Galleries, Region of Waterloo Libraries, Project READ Literacy Network, the Ontario Early Years Centers, KWAG and Words Worth Books. “It’s encouraging for us to receive this kind of community support”, said Laura Reed, Coordinator of Children’s & Teen Services for Kitchener Public Library. “We really appreciate the efforts of JM Drama and the opportunity we had to help promote a great production of this hilarious literacy-related play”.
For more information about the Let’s Read family literacy initiative, or to learn about upcoming programs and events, visit: www.letsreadwaterlooregion.blogspot.com.
For more information about JM Drama, visit: www.jmdrama.org
"Let’s Read” representatives receiving the donation from JM Drama
Left to Right: Don Bourgeois, President of JM Drama; Janelle Wenger, Family Literacy Coordinator, Region of Waterloo Library; and Laura Dick, and Literacy Librarian, Kitchener Public Library.
October 11, 2011
New Online Catalogue Empowers Library Users to Share Their Reading Opinions
Kitchener Public Library has implemented exciting enhancements to our online library catalogue, including the ability for customers to author their own content!
The new interface is more intuitive “Google-like” design will help make the catalogue easier to use, as well as easier for users to discover the books and articles their searching for.
“Our catalogue’s enhanced interactive features will not only help our customers connect with their library, but more excitingly, with each other” says Dale Dyce, Kitchener Public Library’s Coordinator of Marketing. “People love to share their thoughts and opinions on what they’ve read, and the catalogue’s review and ratings features will empower local readers to do just that.”
Here is a quick summary of our new catalogue’s exciting features:
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A fresh new look, with an intuitive “Google-like” search interface;
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Powerful Keyword search that automatically differentiates between title, author & subject;
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“Did you mean” suggestions for misspelled words;
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The inclusion of database articles within search results
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The ability to add personally meaningful “tags”, or identifiers, to book records;
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The ability to write and post reviews for others to see online;
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A shopping cart function allowing users to export records to email
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and much more!
The new catalogue is available on dedicated workstations at all KPL locations, and 24/7 via the Internet. Library customers will have the option of choosing the online search interface of choice, since the “classic” version of the catalogue will continue to remain available alongside the new platform.
We invite our users to have a look at the new interface, explore the links, and get to know their new library portal!
Click here to visit the new library catalogue now!
October 3, 2011
Special Library Closure - Staff Professional Development Day
All locations of the Kitchener Public Library will be CLOSED for one day on Thursday, October 27, 2011 for the library’s annual staff development day. Library staff will be working and learning to serve you better!
This noticed affects all Kitchener Public Library locations:
Main Library -- 85 Queen Street North
Country Hills Library -- 1500 Block Line Road
Forest Heights Library -- 251 Fischer-Hallman Road
Grand River Stanley Park Library -- 175 Indian Road
Pioneer Park Library -- 150 Pioneer Drive
Normal library hours will resume at all KPL locations on Friday, October 28, 2011.
September 19, 2011
2011 "Let's Read" Family Literacy Selection Announced!
KPL is very excited to announce the Let's Read 2011 selection. Let's Read is a family literacy initiative in partnership with Cambridge Libraries and Galleries, Region of Waterloo Libraries, Waterloo Public Library, Project READ Literacy Network, the Ontario Early Years Centers, KWAG and Words Worth Books. Together we are working to get the families of Waterloo Region reading - reading the same book, reading together as a family, and reading together as a community.
Join us for the official launch of this year's Let's Read program at Word on the Street on Sunday, September 25th in Victoria Park. This year we all be reading The Farm Team by Linda Bailey, illustrated by Bill Slavin.
Visit the Let's Read blog for information about programs and events happening across the Region: http://www.letsreadwaterlooregion.blogspot.com/
August 23, 2011
Congratulations to our Winners!
Nearly 1,000 people participated in our recent "Something Wonderful is About to Happen" library survey.
We want to thank all participants for taking the time to fill out our online survey and sharing their thoughts about Kitchener Public Library. The feedback we've received will help us to create an even better public library for our community.
Below are details of our three lucky winners. Each winner received a brand new Kobo
e-reader, "Touch" edition.
Enjoy!
space space 
............... Shannon Richard ............................................................Richard Kimber
Kiflom Yoseph
July 20, 2011
Beat the Heat!
Temperatures are forecast to execeed 30c this week ... with a humidex value of more than 40c! The library is the perfect place to take a break from the summer heat.
Drop into one of our air-conditioned facilites, lounge in one of our comforable seating areas, and read a good book, magazine or newspaper.
We have free wi-fi at all our libray locations, so bring your own laptop or handheld device and surf in comfort. We also have free bookable internet workstations you can use.
Click here for information on KPL locations and hours.
During periods of extreme heat, all City of Kitchener facilies are open to the general public as "cooling centres".
Click here for information on City-wide facilities and hours.
June 27, 2011
Update: Detour at Country Hills – in effect until September 2, 2011
Roundabout construction at Homer Watson Boulevard and Block Line Road, along with rehabilitation work on the Hayward Avenue Bridge, necessitates alternate access to the Country Hills Community Library.
During this construction work, access to the Country Hills Community Library will be available only from Homer Watson Blvd. via Hanson Avenue/Lennox Lewis Way (behind the Activa Sportsplex).
Detour information available here (pdf).
June 15, 2011
New “On-the-Grow” Collection
We’re “On-the-Grow!” To thank our Main Library customers for their continued patience and loyalty during our renovation and construction period, we’ve created
a special collection of popular, high interest items, available exclusively at the
Main Library. These new books, CDs & DVDs for children, teens & adults are
identified with a special construction helmet sticker. Unlike Express Reads &
Express Views, regular loan periods apply. Borrow your favourites for longer!
The new “On-the-Grow” items are located near the Main Library’s Circulation desk.
Come inside to see what’s new!
May 24, 2011
Detour at Country Hills beginning Wednesday May 25
Roundabout construction beginning on Wednesday, May 25th at Homer Watson Boulevard and Block Line Road will result in the closure of the Block Line access to the Country Hills Community Library.
The construction of the roundabout is anticipated to take approximately three months and is slated to be completed at the end of August 2011. It is anticipated that the Homer Watson/Block Line intersection access to Country Hills will remain closed for this length of time as well. Some off-road restoration and landscaping works may extend until the end of October 2011.
Detour information available here (pdf).
[Revised June 17, 2011]
May 24, 2011
Update: Main Library closed, one day only, Wednesday May 25
The Main Library located at 85 Queen Street North will be closed on Wednesday, May 25th for one day only. This temporary closure is necessary to accommodate ongoing Central Library construction work.
Kitchener Public Library’s four Community Library locations will be remain open as usual during the Main Library closure. Library cards are valid at all KPL Community Libraries, and borrowed materials can be returned to the Community Library of your choice.
KPL Community Library locations:
Country Hills Community Library: 1500 Block Line Road
Forest Heights Community Library: 251 Fischer-Hallman Road
Grand River Stanley Park Community Library: 175 Indian Road
Pioneer Park Community Library: 150 Pioneer Drive
We anticipate the Main Library will re-open on Thursday, May 26th.
May 17, 2011
Queen Street - Temporary One-Day Closure
In preparation for the upcoming May 25th one-day closure of the Main Library, Queen Street from Weber to Margaret will be CLOSED for one day only, on or about May 19th.
Access to Centre-in-the-Square parking lot will still be available via Otto Street. Please note that designated accessible parking spaces may also be compromised during this period.
May 16, 2011
Main Library One-Day Closure
The Main Library located at 85 Queen Street North will be closed FOR ONE DAY on or about Wednesday, May 25th, 2011. This temporary closure is necessary to accommodate ongoing Central Library construction work.
Kitchener Public Library’s four Community Library locations will be remain open as usual during the Main Library closure. Library cards are valid at all KPL Community Libraries, and borrowed materials can be returned to the Community Library of your choice.
KPL Community Library locations:
Country Hills Community Library: 1500 Block Line Road
Forest Heights Community Library: 251 Fischer-Hallman Road
Grand River Stanley Park Community Library: 175 Indian Road
Pioneer Park Community Library: 150 Pioneer Drive
We anticipate the Main Library will re-open on Thursday, May 26th. As this one-day closure is to accommodate weather dependent construction work, please continue to check the KPL website to confirm the actual closure and re-opening dates.
To learn more about our exciting Central Library Renovation Project go to:
May 3, 2011
Lyle S. Hallman Foundation Supports Central Library Fundraising Campaign
The Lyle S. Hallman Foundation has approved a significant grant in support of the evolve. literally. Central Library fundraising campaign.
In making the $50,000 contribution, the Foundation’s Board has respected the wishes of its founder and namesake, the late Lyle Hallman. Mr. Hallman’s desire to create opportunities for recreation and character building programmes, particularly for children and youth of low-income families, is addressed by the Foundation’s Children and Youth Capital Grant Programme through which KPL’s grant has been made.
Kitchener Public Library will use the funds to establish a Discovery Zone within the renovated and expanded Children’s Department. Through fun, hands-on activities, pre-schoolers will learn fundamental pre-literacy skills in an accessible and welcoming atmosphere. Caregivers will also have access to expertly designed take home exercises that will build upon the skills introduced at the Library. Strong literacy skills, encouraged early, and higher potential go hand in hand.
Kitchener Public Library thanks the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation for investing in brighter futures through this generous gift.
For more information about the evolve. literally. campaign in support of the Central Library, please contact Paul Dickson via email at Paul.Dickson@kpl.org or call 519-743-0271 ext. 278.
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From left to right: Hulene Montgomery, Executive Director of the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation, Foundation Chair Jim Hallman, KPL Board Chair Dan Carli, and KPL CEO Sonia Lewis after the Foundation announced a grant in support of the KPL Children’s Department. |
Little one, Zoe Harrison, gets a head start on developing her literacy skills. She’s joined by Hulene Montgomery and Jim Hallman of the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation. |
April 14, 2011
One Book, One Community 2011 Reading Selection Announced
Organizers of the One Book, One Community program unveiled Louise Penny’s award winning mystery, Bury Your Dead as the reading selection for Waterloo Region in 2011. This novel, the sixth in Penny’s popular Chief Inspector Gamache series, takes readers back in time, along the streets of Quebec City as Gamache investigate a present day murder that opens a door 400 years into the past and the founding of Canada. In this perfect blending of character, mystery plotting, and history, readers are sure to continue to reflect on this story long after the final page is turned. (Click here for book details.)
Louise Penny’s work has been nationally and internationally recognized. She is the only three time Agatha Award winner, is the 2010 Anthony Award winner for Best Crime novel in the United States, and has also won the Arthur Ellis Canadian Mystery Award, a British Crime Dagger and an American Dilys Award.
This bestselling mystery, Bury Your Dead, can be found in libraries and bookstores in Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and the rural townships. Extra copies of the book are available to respond to the anticipated demand from readers eager to participate in this community-wide reading program.
One Book, One Community was originally created to promote reading to adults in Waterloo Region, to celebrate books and writing, to promote Canadian authors and books, and to build a sense of community through the shared experience of reading. One Book, One Community, now in its tenth year, continues to bring great Canadian books and authors to Waterloo Region. “Reading has long been seen as a solitary activity, however, there is something special about a sharing your reading experience with others,” says Sharron Smith, Chair of the One Book, One Community committee, “readers love to share with friends, neighbours and co-workers their thoughts and reflections. One Book One Community is a book club on a grand scale.” This terrific Canadian novel, by one of Canada’s pre-eminent writers is layered, thought provoking and filled with wisdom, a true reading pleasure.
The committee organizes free author events in Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and Elmira from September 20 to 22, 2011. Watch The Waterloo Region Record for notices of community events as they develop, or check the One Book, One Community website at http://www.oboc.ca and the OBOC blog.
Be sure to participate and let the community know how you got involved. Email the website, visit your local library, attend an event or meet the author. And be sure to share your thoughts with friends and family, co-workers and community members. Our region reads!
Bury Your Dead is available in print (both regular and large print), as an audiobook and an e-book (through online booksellers). Organizers are pleased that it is in a variety of formats to make it more accessible to readers.
For more information about Louise Penny’s Bury Your Dead visit http://www.louisepenny.com/, or visit KPL's One Book One Community web page.
To learn more about One Book, One Community, contact your local library or bookseller, or contact the OBOC Committee Chair, Sharron Smith via email at Sharron.Smith@kpl.org, or call
(519) 743-0271 ext. 259.
April 11, 2011
2011 Amateur Photography Contest Winners Announced
The Kitchener Public Library and Waterloo Region Record are pleased to announce the winners of our 2011 Amateur Photography Contest.
The winners were selected from nearly 1,000 entries by the Waterloo Region Record’s Photo, acclaimed photography manipulation artist L.A. Crewe, and a panel of judges from the Kitchener Horticultural Society. Photographs were submitted under six categories: Landscape, Animals, People, Architecture, Photo Manipulation, and – new this year, Rockway Gardens.
This year’s grand prize winner is Angela House.
All winning photographers will be honoured at a special awards ceremony at the Country Hills Community Library (1500 Block Line Road) on Wednesday, April 27 at 7:00 pm. The general public is welcome to attend the awards ceremony.
This year's winners are:
Landscape:
First: Angela House *GRAND PRIZE WINNER*
Second: John-Paul Fillion
Third: Dan Baskin
HM: Katie Graham
Animals:
First: Karen von Knobloch
Second: Alex Thomson
Third: Andrzej Godlewski
HM: Marlene Legge
People:
First: Brenden Sherratt
Second: Wyatt Michalek
Third: Lindsay Calcerano
HM: Marley Murawsky
HM: Larry R.G. Martin
Architecture:
First: Michael Bortolussi
Second: Joel Campbell
Third: Jesse Brenneman
HM: Alyssa MacLeod
Photo Manipulation:
First: Craig Musselman
Second: Karen von Knobloch
Third: Josh Rozad
HM: Ron Keachie
HM: Beryl McGuinness
Rockway Gardens:
First: Bob Bauer
Second: Karen von Knobloch
Third: Kindra Tutton
Congratulations to all the 2011 winners!
March 11, 2011
2010 Dorothy Shoemaker Literary Awards Contest Winners Announced
The winners of the 2010 Dorothy Shoemaker Literary Awards Contest for Poetry and Prose have been chosen. Winners will be presented with their awards at a special ceremony on Tuesday, March 29th at 7:00 p.m. at the Country Hills Branch of the Kitchener Public Library. Twenty-five poets and short-story writers will be recognized at this special presentation and receive prizes totaling $2,400.00 in this, the 43rd year of the Awards.
Winners were selected from hundreds of entries in two categories: Youth (17 and under), and Adult (18 and older). The contest was conducted in cooperation with numerous school boards, and public and regional library systems throughout southern Ontario, all of which actively promoted the Awards Contest.
The 2010 Winners:
Poetry - Youth
First |
I have no experiences to put in writing |
by Naomi Wiersma |
Second |
Directions to the Future |
by Zainab Ramah |
Third |
Doodlers |
by Isabelle Crew |
Hon. Mention |
The Gray Between Piano Keys |
by Huong Vo |
Hon. Mention |
How to Live |
by Naomi Wiersma |
Poetry - Adult
First |
tactile tone |
by Emma Dines |
Second |
Conchology |
by Sarah McComb |
Third |
Curl |
by Kendall McCulloch |
Hon. Mention |
That Numbness I Can’t Place |
by Ashley-Elizabeth Best |
Hon. Mention |
Sigmund’s Work |
by Katharine Zywert |
Prose - Youth
First |
The Returning |
by Marissa Wu |
Second |
Snow Days |
by William Wellington |
Third |
The Blue Ribbon |
by Renee Filbey |
Hon. Mention |
The Black Blade |
by Leo Sheng |
Prose - Adult
First |
Soul Error |
by Ivano Stocco |
Second |
Les Parapluies |
by Alyssa Foulkes |
Third |
After the Rain |
by Lamees Al Ethari |
Hon. Mention |
Illusions |
by Brenda deGreef |
About the Judges:
Liz Zetlin -- Poetry Judge
Liz Zetlin is a filmmaker and poet from Traverston, Ontario. Best known as a nature poet with a twist, she “plants garlic to form words of prayer and grows grassy punctuation marks in her hay field.” She is the author of four poetry collections, including The Thing With Feathers, Taking Root and Addictions of a Poet Laureate. She has won several prizes, including the Stephen Leacock Award and the Canadian Poetry Association’s Shaunt Basmajian Chapbook Award. She has also produced several video poems, including The Limestone Ghazals and Nightwalk: Boreal Poetry Garden.
Liz Zetlin was Owen Sound’s inaugural Poet Laureate in 2007 and is involved in National Random Acts of Poetry Week, performing spontaneous poetry readings. She is also the co-founder and artistic director of the Words Aloud Spoken Word Festival. Liz writes, “Words Aloud shows you why poetry, the world’s most enduring art form, is truly the shortest distance between two hearts.”
Michelle Wan -- Prose Judge
Michelle Wan was born in China, grew up in India, but now lives in Guelph, Ontario. Her early university studies were in anthropology, yet her career path branched in many directions. Michelle has been a tennis coach, addictions counselor, ESL teacher, researcher and international development worker. This diversity has provided a wealth of material for writing!
Michelle’s novels have been published internationally. Her mystery series Death in the Dordogne, is set in in the south of France and is inspired by “wild orchids, food, memorable people and places, personable dogs and intriguing puzzles.” Titles include Deadly Slipper, The Orchid Shroud, A Twist of Orchids, and Kill For An Orchid.
Awards Ceremony
The Dorothy Shoemaker Literary Awards Contest has been held annually since 1967. The Contest is open to amateur writers from across Canada, with prizes for winning prose and poetry. This year’s guest judges are Michelle Wan (prose) and Elizabeth Zetlin (poetry).
Celebrate the accomplishments of this year’s winners! Finalists will be invited to read their poems or an excerpt of their prose as part of the ceremony, and the judges will share their insight on the winning entries.
Tuesday, March 29 at 7:00 pm
Country Hills Library
No Registration Required
Copies of Michelle Wan’s and Elizabeth Zetlin’s books, as well as the commemorative booklet The Changing Image, will be available for purchase. Light refreshments will be served.
This contest is supported by the Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation.
March 11, 2011
Parking Access: Ahrens Street Closure
A portion of Ahrens Street, from the corner of Queen Street, will be closed for the duration of our construction project.
In addition, sometime during the week of March 14, 2011, access to the parking lot adjacent to the Main Library on Ahrens Street will be temporarily unavailable until May 2011.
To access the adjacent Centre-in-the-Square parking lot during this period, please use the Otto Street parking entrance.
Despite this partial street closure and ongoing construction work, the library remains open as usual.
Please follow this link for details on current service accommodations due to construction.
February 10, 2011
Library Offers Free Online Access to International Newspapers
The daily news of the world is now at your fingertips thanks to a new service offered by the Kitchener Public Library. The library recently introduced Press Display, an online database with 1,700 newspapers from 92 countries in 48 languages. The electronic newspapers can be viewed daily, and many editions are archived for up to two months.
“With Press Display, people can stay up-to-date with the latest news in other countries”, says Natalie Gibbons, Multicultural Librarian at KPL. “I often discover a completely different perspective on world events when I read papers from outside North America.”
Besides helping people stay on top of world events, international newspapers are a great way for those who speak a second language, or are studying a new language, to increase and maintain their language fluency.
Library card holders can use Press Display wherever they have access to the Internet. There is no cost to getting a library card. To use the new database, simply visit the library’s website and click on the “ebranch” tab; then select “databases”.
Or click this link to go directly to Press Display.
Users can browse the collection, or search for a particular newspaper by title, language or country of origin.
If you don’t have your own computer, there is a dedicated Press Display computer station available free of charge at the Main Library on Queen Street.
February 2, 2011
Kitchener Public Library Welcomes Governor General Award-Winning Author Kenneth Oppel as 2011 Writer-in-Residence
Kitchener Public Library is thrilled to welcome Governor General award-winning author Kenneth Oppel as the 2011 Edna Staebler Writer-in-Residence.
Kenneth Oppel’s residency will run from March 1 to May 31, 2011. During his residency, Mr. Oppel will provide several illustrated talks about his work as a writer, an intensive writer's workshop, and even a special session just for youth writers. In addition, Kenneth Oppel will be accepting a limited number of manuscript submissions for one-on-one appraisal.
“The biggest part of being a successful writer is having the discipline to stick with a story until it’s as good as it can be” advises Oppel. In the end, the people who really have the passion and skill for writing will write – because there’s nothing else they’d rather do.”
A prolific writer himself, Kenneth Oppel published his first novel at age 17. In 1995, he received the Canadian Authors’ Association Air Canada Award, for promise demonstrated by a young Canadian writer. Since then, Kenneth has published 27 books, including picture books, children’s chapter books, novels for children and teens, several screenplays and an adult novel.
Kenneth Oppel’s work has received numerous literary awards, including the Governor General’s Literary Award, the Canadian Library Association’s Book of the Year for Children, the American Library Association’s Best Book for Young Adults and the Ontario Library Association’s Silver Birch and Red Maple Awards. In 2006, Kenneth received the Vicky Metcalf Award for Children's Literature, which is awarded to an author of an outstanding body of work in children’s literature.
“We are delighted to host a contemporary Canadian author who has garnered such international success” says Sheila Bauman, KPL’s Events Planner. “His expertise and guidance will be an inspiration to many local aspiring authors”.
Aspiring authors have an opportunity to meet Kenneth Oppel in person at a special welcome reception at the Country Hills Community Library on Tuesday, March 1st at 5:00 pm.
Click here to learn more about KPL’s Writer-in-Residence program, and how to submit a manuscript for appraisal.
January 26, 2011
Kitchener Public Library Offers Free Downloadable Music
Downloading music from the Internet just got easier – and cheaper. Kitchener Public Library recently began offering free downloadable music files via the library’s website through Freegal Music Service; an online database that provides access to songs licensed from Sony Music Entertainment.
The new service will allow Kitchener Public Library to provide their customers with access to over half a million songs from Sony’s music catalogue including current hits like Ke$ha's "TiK ToK," classics songs such as Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run," jazz standards like Dave Brubeck's "Take Five”, and more. New and older songs are added to the Freegal database every week.
Under the terms of the library’s agreement, registered card holders can download two free Sony Music tracks in MP3 format each week via the library’s website. MP3 files can be downloaded directly onto a user’s iPod or MP3 player, or dropped into their home iTunes library. The music files are DRM-free and do not expire, and are compatible with PCs, Macs, iPods, iPads and other MP3-compatible devices.
Downloadable music is just the latest offering in Kitchener Public Library’s growing collection of free online products.
“People have always visited the public library to sign out books, videos and music; so making digital versions of these same collections available to our customers is the logical next step for us.” Said Lesa Balch, KPL’s Senior Manager of Service Development. “Since we began offering downloadable audio books in 2008, and more recently ebooks and downloadable videos, the demand for online products has grown enormously. Customers love the 24/7 convenience of our online collections.”
Click here to To learn more about KPL’s new Freegal music collection, or about KPL’s complete collection of downloadable products.
January 22, 2011
Main Library -Temporary Street Closures
Some temporary street closures affecting Queen and Ahrens Streets will be required to accommodate storm & water line work associated with our construction project.
Ahrens Street
Effective Monday, January 24th, Ahrens Street will be closed from the corner of Queen Street for approximately three weeks. The Ahrens Street access to parking lot #19 (Centre-in-the-Square) will be closed during this work, however, the Otto Street parking entrance will remain open.
Queen Street
Effective Wednesday, January 26th, Queen Street will be closed from Weber Street to Margaret Street for approximately three days. In addition, Ahrens Street from Young to Queen and Roy Street from Young to Queen will also be closed during this three day period. Access to the Centre-in-the-Square parking lot will remain available via Otto Street.
Accessible Parking
Access to the Main Library from the designated accessible parking spaces in the adjacent Centre-in-the-Square parking lot may be compromised during this three week period.
Despite these temporary street closures, the library will remain open as usual. On-street signage will be put in place directing customers to the alternative parking lot entrance. We greatly appreciate your patience during our construction period!
January 8, 2011
Main Library - Temporary Elevator Closure
Due to construction work, the Main Library's elevator will be temporarily out of service for approximately four weeks beginning January 10, 2011. During this period, customers will be required to use the Queen Street stairwell to access the upper level of the library.
For customers unable to use the stairs, procedures have been put in place to assist with the retrieval of library materials. Please inquire at the main floor Information Desk if you require assistance.
January 7, 2011
Scheduled Power Shutdown
On Tuesday, January 11th, there will be a scheduled construction-related power shutdown at the Main Library beginning at 6:00 a.m. It is anticipated that power will be restored by 9:00 a.m.
As of 6:00 a.m. January 11th, the following online services will be unavailable:
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The library website
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The library catalogue including placing holds, viewing your library card account and renewing material
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Computer bookings
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.