All locations are open today from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
All locations are open today from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
All locations are open today from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
All locations are open today from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
All locations are open today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
All locations are open today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
All locations are closed today.
The Grace Schmidt Room (GSR), located on the upper floor of Central Library, is home to a vast collection of local history and genealogy resources.
We welcome library visitors and researchers to use the local history collection. Due to the unique and special nature of the collection, no food or drink is permitted in the GSR. Items belonging to the GSR collection are available for in-library use only and cannot be borrowed.
The GSR is open during Sunday openings (October - May). Please be aware that there is no access to photograph, map, or archival collections on Sundays.
Kitchener Public Library has long been aware of the importance of preserving the local history of Kitchener and Waterloo County. In partnership with the Waterloo Historical Society and the Waterloo Region Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, the library has developed a collection of books, newspapers and other materials documenting the area's history and families.
The Grace Schmidt Room opened on October 14, 1984. It is named in honour of Grace Schmidt, who was a librarian at Kitchener Public Library for 35 years and a long-time member of the Waterloo Historical Society. Ms. Schmidt was a well-known authority on the history of Waterloo County and was the driving force behind the development of the GSR collection.
Visit the Historically Speaking blog to learn more about the Grace Schmidt Room, its collections, and the local history of the Kitchener area.
Dive into the rich history of Kitchener and Waterloo Region and discover the people, places and stories from our past that shape our present! Explore our digital repository of photographs, directories, oral history recordings and more.
Learn more about local history and genealogy by attending Grace Schmidt Room programming. Search the Library's Event Listing using the Category Genealogy/Local History.
Upcoming programs include:
Show me how to digitize! - offered Monday-Saturday: call 519-743-0271, ext 212 or email gsr@kpl.org to make an appointment
The Grace Schmidt Room houses specialized scanning and conversion equipment, allowing library users to scan and digitize books, microfilm, photographs, slides and VHS recordings.
Let us help you find answers to your local history and genealogy questions.
Karen Ball-Pyatt
Manager, Grace Schmidt Room of Local History
Kitchener Public Library
85 Queen St N
Kitchener ON N2H 2H1
Phone: 519-743-0271 x 252
Email: karen.ball-pyatt@kpl.org
