Cool Things

Ready to shoot some hoops? Borrow a basketball from Country Hills Library or Pioneer Park Library!

Basketballs are available for one-day loans only.

How to borrow:

Basketballs can be borrowed from either Country Hills Library or Pioneer Park Library. You can request a basketball at the information desk. You must have a library card to borrow a basketball.

You can also reserve a basketball up to 30 minutes in advance of pickup. To reserve, call the library to confirm availability. Reservations will be held for a maximum of 30 minutes.

Country Hills Library: 519-743-3558
Pioneer Park Library: 519-748-2740

How to return:

Basketballs must be returned to to the library they were borrowed from during library hours of operation. Please return basketballs to the information desk.

In partnership with Ziggy's Cycle & Sport, high-quality bike locks are available at our community library locations.

Borrowing rules

• Bike locks may be borrowed from Country Hills, Forest Heights, Grand River Stanley Park, or Pioneer Park.
• You may borrow a lock for up to three days. Locks cannot be reserved in advance.
• Borrowed locks cannot be renewed, and carry an overdue fine of $2 per day.
• Locks must be returned to the circulation desk.

Cyclists are welcome to bring their bicycles into the library while they check out a lock. Bicycles may not be kept inside the library otherwise.

We are proud to offer children and families a selection of board games to borrow.

These aren’t your everyday board games either. Each game was carefully selected by psychology and early development experts based on their ability to make learning fun. Beyond being tons of fun, these are games that can help foster early years' development in childrens' language, thinking, and social skills.

Our board game collection has over 100 items - more than 30 unique games with multiples of each one!

How do I borrow board games?

All you need is a library card! Browse our board game collection on our online catalog and place a hold on the board games you are interested in. You will be notified when your game is ready to be picked up at the library location of your choosing.

How long can I keep a board game for?

• You may borrow up to three games per card at a time
• Board games may be borrowed for up to three weeks, with up to two renewals
• KPL is proud to be completely fine free, and that includes our board games. However, a replacement fee will apply to lost or damaged items.

How do I return board games?

All games are required to be returned during opening hours to a staff member, either at a service desk, or through our curbside pickup service. We ask that you do not return any of the games through our drop-boxes.

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This board game lending library was made possible through a financial donation by Daniela O'Neill in memory of her mother, Maria C. O'Neill.

Maria was a lifelong reader and supporter of libraries. She loved conversation, books and playing board and card games. Maria shared these passions throughout her life with her children, grandchildren, friends and many students as an ESL teacher in Toronto.

Play the classic outdoor game of bocce ball with a Bocce Ball set from the library!

Each set contains eight bocce balls and one pallino ball in a bag.

How to borrow:

Bocce Ball sets may be borrowed for one week. You can place the sets on hold and choose to pick them up at any Kitchener Public Library location.

How to return:

Bocce Ball sets can be returned to any Kitchener Public Library location during library hours of operation. Please call the library's curbside pickup number when you arrive and staff will retrieve the set.

Maintaining proper indoor levels of Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) is important as high indoor CO₂ levels can cause tiredness, headaches, and other symptoms. Our monitors can help you get a better idea of the CO₂ levels inside your home to see if you need to take action to reduce them.

CO₂ monitors can be borrowed for up to 3 weeks, and are available at all Kitchener Public Library locations.

Please read our Carbon Dioxide Monitor for Indoor Air Quality document for more information on CO₂ and how to best reduce it in your home.

Play the classic lawn game of croquet with a Croquet Set from the library!

Each set contains 6 colour mallets, 6 balls, 9 wickets, and 2 end posts in a bag.

How to Borrow:

Croquet Sets may be borrowed for one week. You can place the sets on hold and choose to pick them up at any Kitchener Public Library location.

How to Return:

Croquet Sets can be returned in-person to any Kitchener Public Library location during library hours of operation. Please call the library's curbside pickup number when you arrive and staff will retrieve the set.

Borrow a Croquet Set

Live green and save money!

Do you want to lower your electrical bill? Or reduce your energy footprint? We all do! Take control of your energy costs without paying for special technical devices.

In partnership with Kitchener Wilmot Hydro, we are pleased to provide energy meters that can help you learn just how much you are consuming. The energy meters provide data on various aspects of consumption and costs, measuring real-time usage as well as daily, monthly and yearly estimates.

Energy meters can be borrowed for up to 3 weeks, and are available at all Kitchener Public Library locations.

Brought to you by a generous donation from Kitchener Wilmot Hydro.

Hockey skates can be borrowed from Central Library during regular library hours. Skates can be borrowed for one day and can be kept overnight.

Kitchener Public Library members age 13+ are welcome to borrow skates. Our collection includes hockey skates in youth, junior and adult sizes. Skates are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Can skates be borrowed year-round?

Yes! Hockey skates can be borrowed at any time of the year.

How do I borrow a pair of skates?

It's easy! Hockey skates are located at the back of the lounge. Grab your size off the shelf and have a seat at our sizing area and try them on to make sure they fit. A Sizing Information Chart is available if you need help figuring out your size. After you have found the right size, bring the skates to the Welcome Desk for checkout.

You can also borrow skates through Curb and Carry. Call us at 519-574-4583 when you arrive at Central Library. Staff will ask for your name, library card number, and skate size(s). They will check out the skates, bring them outside, and place them on the table for you to retrieve.

Skates are available on a first-come, first-served basis only. You cannot place skates on hold.

How do I return my skates to the library?

Skates must be returned to Central Library during opening hours. To return your skates, bring them to staff at the Welcome Desk, or call 519-574-4583 to return through Curb and Carry. Please do not return skates through the outside book drop. Returned skates will be disinfected before becoming available again.

Sizing Information

As a general rule, hockey skates will be 1-1.5 sizes smaller than your regular shoe size. Please see the skate size chart below for guidance on sizing.

(Note: Y = Youth)

Youth Sizes

Junior Sizes

Adult Sizes

Borrow the Internet! Available to anyone over the age of 18 with a library card, our hotspots deliver unlimited data and are capable of connecting to the Internet from anywhere in Canada.

Borrowing Rules

• Hotspots can be borrowed for up to 21 days.
• Hotspots must be reserved in advance. You can request to pick up your hotspot at any of our library locations.
• Due to high demand, hotspots cannot be renewed.

All the fun of the classic Jenga game, with the ability to stack blocks up to 5 feet high!

How to Borrow:

Jenga Giant may be borrowed for one week. You can place the game on hold and choose to pick it up at any Kitchener Public Library location.

How to Return:

Jenga Giant can be returned in-person to any Kitchener Public Library location during library hours of operation. Please call the library's curbside pickup number when you arrive and staff will retrieve the game.

Gain free admission to our local museums! This initiative is part of a Region-wide partnership to provide individuals and families with the opportunity to visit some of the area’s top cultural attractions.

You can borrow a pass to visit THEMUSEUM in downtown Kitchener, or to visit the Region of Waterloo Museums, including Joseph Schneider Haus and Doon Heritage Village.

Museum passes can be borrowed for one week. You must have a library card to borrow a pass.

• Available at all KPL locations
• Valid at Waterloo Region Museum, Doon Heritage Village, and Joseph Schneider Haus.
• This pass grants free regular admission for a family of up to two adults and all dependent children.
• This pass is not valid for ticketed events, workshops or school programs.

• Available at all KPL locations
• Valid at THEMUSEUM, located at 10 King St W in downtown Kitchener
• THEMUSEUM pass grants free regular admission for a family of up to two adults and up to four children.
• This pass is not valid for ticketed events, workshops or school programs.

Gain free admission to Grand River and Ontario parks! This initiative is part of a province-wide partnership to provide individuals and families with the opportunity to spend time in nature and explore the beauty of Ontario.

All passes can be borrowed for one week. You must have a library card to borrow a pass.

Grand River Parks

Borrow a Grand River Parks pass for free entry to 10 Grand River parks and the Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area.

Park passes can be borrowed from any of our library locations. The Grand River Parks pass offers admission for up to 6 people arriving together in one personal vehicle, or walking or biking in.

The pass is valid for entry during the parks’ regular operating seasons and regular business hours only. Park capacity limitations will apply (note: This pass is not valid at the Elora Quarry Conservation Area).

Visit Grand River Parks for information about park locations, restrictions, and more, to help plan your visit.

Ontario Parks

Borrow an Ontario Parks pass for free day-use access to all Ontario Provincial Parks.

Park passes can be borrowed from any of our library locations. The Ontario Parks pass offers admission for one vehicle and its occupants. Park capacity limitations will apply.

Walk towards a healthier you!

Walking is easy to fit into your schedule, and has many positive benefits for physical and mental health. A pedometer tracks the number of steps taken in a day, allowing you to set goals and increase your fitness levels.

Add more steps to your day with our easy-to-use pedometer kits, which include a pedometer, a safe walking guide, and a map of local walking trails.

Up for a game of pickleball? Borrow a set of pickleball paddles from Country Hills Library or Pioneer Park Library!

Each set contains two paddles and two pickleballs in a bag.

Pickleball sets are available for 1-day loans only.

How to borrow:

Pickleball sets can be borrowed from either Country Hills Library or Pioneer Park Library. You can request a set at the information desk. You must have a library card to borrow a pickleball set.

You can also reserve a pickleball set up to 30 minutes in advance of pickup. To reserve, call the library to confirm availability. Reservations will be held for a maximum of 30 minutes.

Country Hills Library: 519-743-3558
Pioneer Park Library: 519-748-2740

How to return:

Pickleball sets must be returned to to the library they were borrowed from during library hours of operation. Please return the pickleball set to the information desk.

Enjoy backyard fun in the sun with a game of Ring Toss!

Each set contains 1 base, 5 towers, and 4 throwing rings in a bag.

How to Borrow:

Ring Toss games may be borrowed for one week. You can place the game on hold and choose to pick it up at any Kitchener Public Library location.

How to Return:

Ring Toss games can be returned in-person to any Kitchener Public Library location during library hours of operation. Please call the library's curbside pickup number when you arrive and staff will retrieve the game.

Looking to grow your own plants? The library provides seeds for you to begin growing your own garden at home! Our hope is to promote gardening as well as food literacy, and to showcase the importance of preserving seeds for public use.

Seed Pack Pickup

Are you ready to plant in your garden or start one for the first time?

Beginning Monday May 9, check out our Seed Pack Pickup at any KPL location and get your garden going!

Available seeds include:

All seeds have labels with planting details. Select up to 3 seed packets this season, per household.

No registration required - simply visit us and pick up your seed envelopes at self-serve stations, starting May 9. Supplies are limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Planning a winter hike? Borrow a pair of snowshoes from the library!

Snowshoes are available for 1-week loans. Available sizes include adult large, adult medium, and child size.

How to borrow:

Snowshoes can be borrowed for up to one week. You can place snowshoes on hold and choose to pick them up at any Kitchener Public Library location.

How to return:

Snowshoes can be returned either in-person or via curbside pickup to any Kitchener Public Library location during library hours of operation.

Up for a game of tennis? Borrow a tennis racquet from Country Hills Library!

Tennis racquets are available for one-day loans only. Sizes available include full-size and junior-size racquets.

How to borrow:

Tennis racquets can only be borrowed at Country Hills Library. You can request a tennis racquet at the information desk. You must have a library card to borrow a tennis racquet.

You can also reserve a tennis racquet up to 30 minutes in advance of pickup. To reserve, call 519-743-3558 to confirm racquet size and availability before you leave home. Reservations will be held for a maximum of 30 minutes.

How to return:

Tennis racquets must be returned to Country Hills Library during library hours of operation. Please return tennis racquets to the information desk.

Borrow toys from Pioneer Park Library!

All toys can be borrowed for up to 1 week at a time. Toys are available on a first-come, first-served basis only and cannot be placed on hold. You must have a library card to borrow items from the toy collection.

How to borrow:

You can request toys in-person at Pioneer Park Library.

For the latest updates and most recent availability of toys, please visit us at Pioneer Park and ask staff for the Toy Binder.

How to return:

Toys must be returned in-person to Pioneer Park Library during library hours of operation.

Borrow a pair of trekking poles for your next hiking or trail-walking adventure!

How to Borrow:

Trekking poles may be borrowed for one week. You can place the poles on hold and choose to pick them up at any Kitchener Public Library location.

How to Return:

Trekking poles can be returned in-person to any Kitchener Public Library location during library hours of operation. Please call the library's curbside pickup number when you arrive and staff will retrieve the poles.

KPL cardholders can now access over 170 vinyl records featuring an iconic array of artists and albums. The collection spans popular genres including rock, hip-hop, blues, jazz, soul, country and everything in-between. 

Vinyl records are free to borrow from Central Library. All you need is a library card!

The collection is located in Heffner Studio, our state-of-the-art audio and digital media production lab. For those who do not have a turntable at home, a listening station is available in Heffner Studio.

Who can borrow a vinyl record?

You must have a library card to borrow a vinyl record. Visitor and unconfirmed address cards are not eligible.

How long can I borrow a vinyl record?

Vinyl records can be borrowed for 1 week, and you may borrow up to 2 records at a time. Please note that vinyl record checkouts cannot be renewed.

Can I place records on hold?

Vinyl records cannot be placed on hold. Customers are encouraged to browse the collection at Central Library.

How do I return vinyl records?

All vinyl records must be returned in-person to a Central Library service desk or via curbside pickup. We ask that you do not return any records through our drop-boxes.

Get the most out of nature exploration with our Wildlife Kits!

Each Wildlife Kit contains:

• 1 pair binoculars
• 1 compass
• 1 pocket microscope
• 1 Lorimer guide to Ontario birds
• 1 Grand River guide

How to Borrow:

Wildlife Kits may be borrowed for one week. You can place the kits on hold and choose to pick them up at any Kitchener Public Library location.

How to Return:

Wildlife Kits can be returned in-person to any Kitchener Public Library location during library hours of operation. Please call the library's curbside pickup number when you arrive and staff will retrieve the kit.