Library Hours
Library Locations
Main Library 
Main Library
85 Queen St North
Kitchener, ON
N2H 2H1
Phone: (519) 743-0271
Fax: (519) 743-1261
Wheelchair Accessible
Wireless Internet
Bus Routes
# 8 University via Weber (Route Map)
# 15 Frederick (Route Map)
Main Library Profile
Besides functioning as the community library for our downtown customers, the Main Library also houses numerous specialized collections and services which are impossible or too costly to duplicate at our Community Libraries located elsewhere in the city. The Main Library features a diverse collection of over 300,000 materials and circulates over 800,000 items annually.
Built in 1962, the Main Library is also the administrative headquarters for the entire KPL system.
More information on the history of Kitchener Public Library
Parking
Pay & Display metered parking is available at the Centre-in-the-Square lot, located adjacent to the Main Library. Centre-in-the-Square parking is $1.85 per hour with a $8.00 all-day maximum. There is also has a small Pay & Display lot behind the Main Library. Parking in this lot is limited to a maximum of 3 hours.
*Please note: Centre-in-the-Square parking is FREE after 6:00 pm, provided there is no theatre performance. Centre-in-the-Square theatre schedule
* Parking Complaints:
The parking lots adjacent to the Main Library are owned and operated by the City of Kitchener. Please direct any questions or concerns about library parking to Traffic and Parking Services at 519-741-2378.
Membership
Visit the About the Library section of the KPL website to learn about library membership, including:
And much more!
What We Offer
Special Collections |
Unique Services |
|---|---|
Access Centre
The Access Centre is an area designed to meet the special needs of our customers. The technology, equipment and resources are available to help people who are blind or visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, and physically disabled. More information can be found here.
Autism Collection
The Autism Collection of the Kitchener Public Library is a special, regionally-accessible, resource of materials in all formats intended for the informational, instructional and research needs of the general public on this disorder.
This unique collection includes resources for researchers, health workers as well as individuals and families who work and live with autism. The collection is housed beside the HealthLink area of the Information Services Department at the Main Library.
This important resource has been made possible through the generous donation of the Waterloo Wellington Autism Services Organization.
Business Collection
The Information Services Department of our Main Library has the largest collection of business information in the Kitchener Public Library system. Our staff can help you find the information you need, whether it is available in a specialized directory, a Statistics Canada report, a magazine or newspaper, or on the Internet. Click here for more information on the business collection.
Career and Education Collection
Our Career and Education collection, located in the Information Services department, at the Main Library, provides a wealth of information and resources for those seeking to broaden their education or find employment. More information can be found here.
Computer Centre
The Computer Centre, located at the Main Branch of the Kitchener Public Library, consists of eleven PCs which KPL cardholders may sign up once a day for a maximum of two hours, Monday to Saturday, and a maximum of one hour on Sundays.
For details on the computer centre, including software, technology, and policies, click here visit the Computer Centre page.
Government Documents Collection
KPL is a selective depository library for federal documents, and a full depository library for Ontario documents. You can access federal and Ontario bills, laws, and regulations in print or online. For more information, visit the government documents page here.
Grace Schmidt Room of Local History
Anyone interested in researching their family history in the Waterloo Region, or the history of the Region itself, will discover a wealth of information in the Grace Schmidt Room ofLocal History.
Click here to visit the Grace Schmidt Room now!
HealthLink
Our health reference collection consists of a large collection of current consumer health materials, including textbooks, videos, magazine articles, and electronic databases. Click here to visit HealthLink.
Homework Centre
The Kitchener Public Library's Homework Centre features 6 computers with Internet access and word processing plus both print and electronic resources to assist students with assignments. Located at the Main Library, our Homework Centre also has volunteers who are available to help students get started on homework assignments, serve as mentors, and link them to the library's resources and services.
:Learn more about the Homework Centre by clicking here.
IQ InfoQuest
Staffed by professional researchers, I.Q. InfoQuest offers comprehensive research services at affordable prices. Now even small businesses can have access to the information needed to make timely decisions. Visit the I.Q. InfoQuest page for more details.
Literacy Collection
To help promote life-long reading, KPL offers collections of print and audiovisual materials for adult readers who are upgrading their skills, as well as tutors and ESL students.
More information can be found here.
Magazines and Newspapers
Kitchener Public Library subscribes to over 500 newspapers and magazines, covering a wide variety of topics in a number of languages. See the Magazines and Newspapers section for more details.
Meeting Rooms
Kitchener Public Library has a variety of meeting rooms suitable for all your meeting or group needs. Our rooms can accommodate groups up to 200 people. We offer competitive rental rates plus we have onsite catering facilities available.
Room sizes, rental rates, and terms of use are available here.
Multicultural Collection
The International Language collection at the Main Library provides books and videos in over 20 languages. The library also subscribes to a growing number of magazines and newspapers in languages other than English. Click here for further information.
Musical Scores
Whether you’ve just begun learning a musical instrument, or are in the “talented musician” category, KPL has over 1000 titles to choose from. Whether your taste is Mozart, Gershwin, or the Beatles, you’ll find something in this collection to inspire you to pick up that instrument and play!
Talking Books
Talking books are complete, unabridged tape recorded versions of popular fiction and non-fiction books. Talking Books are just one of many special collections we have for customers with special needs. These books can be found in the Access Centre.
Toy Library
Our Toy Library has a large collection of developmental toys for babies and older children. Our collection also includes pop-up books, games and puzzles for your child to enjoy. For your child’s continued enjoyment, all the material in our toy library may also be signed out on your library card.
Volunteer Services
Volunteer opportunities are available at various KPL locations. We invite you to discover the many ways that you can support your public library. The Kitchener Public Library provides all volunteers with an excellent orientation and training package to ensure that each volunteer placement is both enjoyable and productive.
Click here to visit Volunteer Services.