Happening This Month
at the Central Library


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at your downtown library!

About KPL

 

KPL: 1884 - 2009

In 1884, the first free public library was created in what is today the city of Kitchener. Originally located within the walls of the Town Hall, the small library rapidly outgrew the available space and moved to its first permanent location in 1904.  In 1962, the Kitchener Public Library moved to its current location on Queen Street. 

 

The ensuing decades saw a rapid increase in both population and library usage.  Community Libraries were added in 1971, 1976 and 1982.  An extension was added to the Main Library in 1978, and yet again in 1994.  In 2004, Kitchener Public Library opened its fourth Community Library location.

 

In 1999, the Kitchener Public Library Board recognized the need to begin planning for a new Central Library facility. In 2003, the Library Board, with the assistance from Beckman Associates Library Consultants, conducted a needs assessment study which revealed the current Main Library could no longer meet the needs of Kitchener’s rapidly growing population.


 

Our Strengths

 

Kitchener Public Library has continually been rated by residents as one of the city's most important services.  When considering value for the dollar, Kitchener Public Library is second to none.  In fact, the annual cost for library service per person in Kitchener is less than the cost of one book.

 

Currently, the Kitchener Public Library boasts over ½ million collection items and nearly 100,000 active members.  The library sees over one million visits each year and lends nearly two million items annually.  In addition, some 70,000 people attend a library sponsored program each year.

 

All locations of the Kitchener Public Library offer extensive fiction and non-fiction collections, suitable for all ages.  The library also provides free programs for all ages, free Internet access, the expertise of highly trained library staff, community-friendly hours of operation, and rewarding volunteer opportunities to some three hundred people.

 

The Main Library serves a dual role.  While serving as the community library for downtown residents, it is also the heart of the Kitchener Public Library system.  The Main Library manages all crucial administrative and planning functions and also serves as the primary research centre for the entire library network. The Main Library provides unique collections and services not available at our community libraries including; in-depth business resources, government documents, local history collections, consumer health information, multilingual collections and education and career information.

 

With our partners at the City of Kitchener and with the Waterloo Region District School Board and Waterloo Catholic District School Board, the Kitchener Public Library is committed to providing the very best in library service for our community.

 

 

Our Challenges

 

Kitchener is among the fastest growing communities in the Province and is expected to have a total population of nearly 250,000 by 2020.  Kitchener is the 5th largest intake area for new immigrants in Canada and has a younger than average population.  Both of these population groups are significant library users.

 

Expanding our community libraries alone cannot meet the demands on library services in Kitchener.  These community-based facilities focus on recreation, browsing, and general information needs for local residents and students.  They rely on the Main Library for administrative support in order to remain efficient and meet residents’ needs.  As our community library network grows, the demands placed on our current Main Library will increase accordingly. 

 

The Main Library is the heart of the Kitchener Public Library system.  It manages crucial administrative and planning functions and has the largest, most comprehensive collections, in the entire system.  The Main Library also holds unique collections and resources than cannot be duplicated.

 

The current Main Library is 43 years old and is deficient in 11 of the 16 criteria established by provincial, national, and international library associations.  The original building has been expanded twice and further expansion is no longer feasible at the current location due to structural design and lack of land.

 

Some of the most significant deficiencies include:

 

In order to address these concerns and to continue providing excellent library service for the future, the Kitchener Public Library Board recommended the renovation and expansion of the Central Library as the best alternative.

 

KPL Central Library Facts:

 

  • Current main library building is 46 years old

  • Built for a population of 73,000 and now serves over 213,000 residents

  • Supports a network of 4 branch libraries and community outreach initiatives

  • Central Library is also the branch library for the residents and businesses located in the downtown area

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Month at KPL's Main Library:

 

  • 30,000 people will visit the library

  • 93,000 items will be borrowed

  • 580 library cards will be issued

  • 5,000 reference questions will be answered

  • 3,200 people will attend library programs

  • 5,500 computer reservations will be made

Growing Through the Years:

 

The current plan to renovate and expand the Main (Central) Library on Queen Street is just the most recent development in a long history of growth and change for the Kitchener Public Library.

 

Since being established in 1884, the library and it's volunteer Board have worked hard to respond to the changing needs and increasing demands for library service from a rapidly growing community. Below is a timeline of key events in the growth of KPL.