Kitchener Public Library
History
The main branch of the Kitchener Public Library opened at 85 Queen Street in May 1962. Its origins date back to the Mechanics Institute first established in 1854, that grew within the first year to nearly 1,000 books in German and English. It was a Carnegie library. The collection, maintained by membership fees and private subscriptions, was destroyed by fire in the 1860s and was replaced in 1871 by a library located on the first floor of the town hall. The Berlin Public Library was officially formed in 1884 following the passing of the Free Libraries Act two years prior.
The present library replaced the Berlin Public Library which originally opened in 1884 with a collection of 2,855 volumes on the first floor of the town hall. The Berlin Public Library was moved when it became a Carnegie library, opening on January 8, 1904, which was located at Queen and Weber. Mabel Dunham served as Chief Librarian at the new location from 1908 to 1944. The Carnegie library was demolished following the opening of the Queen Street location in 1962.
Expansion
In 2010 the main branch underwent a $40 million 25,000-square-foot expansion. Completed in 2013, the project increased floor space by 30% (from around 82,000 square feet to 107,000 square feet), and made the entire building wheelchair accessible. Designed by Levitt Goodman Architects, the building was awarded a 2015 Library Architectural and Design Transformation award by the Ontario Library Association.
In 2015 the Kitchener Public Library became the first library in Canada to lend out internet Hotspots.
Branches
The Kitchener Public Library system consists of a Central Library in the downtown core, and four Community Library locations throughout the city. The Central Library was completely renovated and expanded in 2014.
| Branch | Founded | Present building opened | Attached public facility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central | 1884 | 1962 (expansion opened 2014) | Standalone |
| Grand River Stanley Park | 1971 | 2002 | Grand River Collegiate Institute |
| Forest Heights | 1976 | 1976 | Forest Heights Community Pool; Forest Heights Collegiate Institute |
| Pioneer Park | 1982 | 1989 | Doon-Pioneer Park Community Centre |
| Country Hills | 2004 | 2004 | St. Mary's High School |
See also
References
- ^ "Library observing its 100th birthday". The Record. 22 June 1954. p. 18. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- ^ Bushell, Gayle. "Berlin (Kitchener) Carnegie Library". The Carnegie Libraries of Waterloo Region. University of Waterloo. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ Uttley, W. V. A History of Kitchener, Ontario. Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 1975
- ^ "Mabel Dunham Biography". cfuwkw.org. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ "Mabel Dunham". Mennonite Archives of Ontario. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ Bushell, Gayle (2011). "Berlin (Kitchener) Carnegie Library". publish.uwo.ca. University of Western Ontario. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
- ^ Pender, T (18 May 2011). "Kitchener library expansion underway". The Record. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
- ^ "Building Award Winners". www.accessola.org. OLA. Archived from the original on April 17, 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Thompson, Catherine. "KPL Is First Library in Canada to Lend out Internet Hot Spot Devices." Waterloo Regional Record, 8 Oct. 2015.
