Kitchener Public Library cardholders can now access over 170 vinyl records featuring an iconic array of artists and albums.
In recent years, vinyl records have seen a vibrant resurgence in popularity, with Waterloo Region home to a particularly thriving collector’s community. Seeing an opportunity to further celebrate musical literacy and engage with hobbyists and audiophiles, the library is bringing back vinyl, a collection previously discontinued in the late 1990s.
Located in Heffner Studio, the collection spans popular genres including rock, pop, hip-hop, blues, jazz, soul, country and everything in-between. The records are free to borrow from Central Library with a library card and can be loaned out for one week. For those who do not have a turntable at home, a listening station will also be available to enjoy the records in the library.
"We’re excited to bring vinyl records back to the library, not only for the growing local community of vinyl enthusiasts, but to a new generation of music fans. Whether you prefer the sound quality of vinyl, the tactile experience of lifting a record out of its sleeve and dropping the needle into the groove or are drawn to the album artwork, we are thrilled to reintroduce another way to experience and enjoy music."
-- Mary Chevreau, CEO Kitchener Public Library
Complementing the collection, the library has plans to add new programs and events to celebrate the modern resurgence and production history of vinyl recordings.
This exciting evolution of the space is made possible, in part, by generous donations made in memory of Payton Colussi, a music enthusiast with an eclectic taste and a personal connection to Heffner Studio and Kitchener Public Library.
About the Kitchener Public Library
Kitchener Public Library is a hub of activity and one of the most significant community spaces in the City of Kitchener. The library boasts five locations located throughout the city; including the award-winning and recently renovated and expanded Central Library near the downtown core. The library has 102,000 active members and welcomes 1.2 million visitors each year. To learn more about Kitchener Public Library, visit kpl.org. To be the first to find out what’s happening at the library, follow @KitchLibrary on Twitter.
For additional information about this release, please contact:
Shirley Luu
Manager, Marketing and Communications
Kitchener Public Library
85 Queen St. North, Kitchener ON, N2H 2H1
Phone: 519-743-0271 x227
shirley.luu@kpl.org