Southwest Library is opening soon! We are so excited to welcome you to Kitchener Public Library’s sixth location at 100 Rosenberg Way in southwest Kitchener. Construction crews are still putting the finishing touches on some areas, but Southwest will be open for you to explore and browse collections.
Southwest is a sustainability superstar! It’s a net-zero, carbon neutral, energy efficient building and the first of its kind in Waterloo Region. It has achieved the Zero Carbon Building designation from the Canada Green Building Council. This means that this building has a lot of special features. You’ll spot solar panels, triple-glazed windows with bird-friendly frit and more. Southwest was built with the future in mind.
The doors of Southwest Library open on Thursday, March 13 and the grand opening celebrations will take place in the spring once we complete all the finishing touches.
Plan Your First Visit
- Southwest Library will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, and we expect it to be a busy day.
- Work is still being completed at the front of the building. Please enter through the doors that are accessible from the parking lot off Abram Clemens Street. You can access the parking lot by taking the Abram Clemens Street exit at the Rosenberg Way roundabout in front of Southwest Library.
- If the building is at capacity, you may be asked to wait to enter, so please dress for the weather.
- As part of our sustainability goals for this location, parking is limited. Pick out some great road tunes and consider carpooling with friends.
- Consider planning a special day for your family’s first visit to Southwest Library in the weeks following the opening. We’ve got lots of fun programs planned throughout the spring.
- Don’t worry, you won’t miss any special opening day activities, our grand opening celebration will take place in the spring.
New collections and placing holds
The new collections for Southwest Library are now live in our online catalogue! We are excited to bring you loads of great books, video games, DVDs, magazines and unique items, such as roller skates and Yoto Minis. Southwest will also feature an Indigenous collection that was developed with Goodminds, an Indigenous-run bookstore located on the Six Nations of the Grand River territory.
Is Southwest going to be your new home library? You can now select Southwest Library as a pick-up location for your holds.
Special Features
Don't miss these special features when you visit Southwest:
- "Wintertime Stories" is new public artwork by Isaac Murdoch and Nyle Miigizi, Anishinabek artists.
- Creation space and recording studio
- Reflection room
- Study rooms
- And so much more!
As you visit and get to know Southwest Library, you'll see the final details come together. Keep an eye out for the upcoming children's feature wall, commercial kitchen for food literacy programs, and outdoor elements, such as the gardens and bioswales.
Together we will make Southwest Library an amazing place for our Kitchener community!