Giving to the Library Just Got Easier!

For the months of November and December 2012, all that is needed to make a $5 gift to KPL is a mobile phone.

Mobile giving, or "text-to-give" campaigns, are a convenient way to give back to the organizations you love. You can make a difference in just a few simple steps:

Enter the text "KPL" in the text message field of your device

• In the recipient field, enter the numbers 45678
• Send the message
• When you receive an automatically-generated text response asking for confirmation of
   your $5 transaction, reply "Yes"

Your one-time $5 donation will be added to your next mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance.

For information on how you can obtain a record of donations you have made to Canadian charities using your mobile device, and/or to generate a tax receipt, please visit http://receipt.mobilegiving.ca.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact our Development Manager, Paul Dickson, at campaign@kpl.org or 519-743-0271 ext. 278.

For more information about library fundraising, please visit the Evolve. Literally section of the KPL website.

Library Renovation Moving Forward Above Ground

“. . . one of the most stunning public rooms in the city.”

“. . . the view through the south wall is jaw-dropping.”

“You can see this is a spectacular-looking building, it is breathtaking.”

“There are few such buildings in this region.”

These are just a few quotes from the recently published Waterloo Region Record article about our library renovation and expansion project.

Read the entire article here.

 

 Mathew McCarthy/Record staff

Domenic Trichilo (right) and library chief executive Sonia Lewis walk through the under-construction expansion of the Kitchener Public Library main branch, Wednesday.
 

 Mathew McCarthy/Record staff

Visit our "Media Coverage" page for this and past articles about our project.

Phase One Underground Parking Garage Now Open!

The first phase of our shared underground parking garage is now open! Hourly parking is available in the garage between the hours of 6:00 am and 10:00 pm; with access via Queen Street.

When first phase of the underground parkign garage opens, the adjacent Centre-in-the-Square parking lot (Lot # 19) will be CLOSED to accommodate work on the second phase of the underground parking garage.

Once completed, the entire underground garage complex will accommodate over 400 vehicles.

For the duration of our Central Library construction project, public parking will include the first phase of the new underground garage, some accessible and short-duration surface parking at the corner of Ahrens Street and Queen Street, as well as metered on-street parking along both Ahrens Street and Roy Street. Short duration and all-day parking is also available at the Duke & Ontario garage, City Hall garage, Kitchener Market garage, and the new parking structure at Charles & Benton Street.

Library Access from Underground Garage
For the time being, access to the library from the underground garage will be via elevator or stairwell to the street-level only. Library users parking in the underground garage will exit to the street level, then proceed around the library to the front entrance on Queen Street.

There will continue to be some surface parking on the corner of Ahrens Street and Queen Street for accessible parking and caregivers with young children.

This library access is a temporary accommodation only. Once our new addition is completed later this fall, there will be elevator and stairwell access directly into the library.


Click here for a site plan showing parking and pedestrian access to the Main Library.

Follow this link to the City of Kitchener's website on downtown parking options.

Underground Parking Garage Opening Soon!

The first phase of our shared underground parking garage is scheduled to open on or about Thursday, July 12! Hourly parking will be available in the garage between the hours of 6:00 am and 10:00 pm; with access via Queen Street.

When first phase of the underground parkign garage opens, the adjacent Centre-in-the-Square parking lot (Lot # 19) will be CLOSED to accommodate work on the second phase of the underground parking garage.

Once completed, the entire underground garage complex will accommodate over 400 vehicles.

For the duration of our Central Library construction project, public parking will include the first phase of the new underground garage, some accessible surface parking at the corner of Ahrens Street and Queen Street, as well as metered on-street parking along both Ahrens Street and Roy Street. Short duration and all-day parking is also available at the Duke & Ontario garage, City Hall garage, Kitchener Market garage, and the new parking structure at Charles & Benton Street.

Library Access from Underground Garage
For the time being, access to the library from the underground garage will be via elevator or stairwell to the street-level only. Library users parking in the underground garage will exit to the street level, then proceed around the library to the front entrance on Queen Street.

There will continue to be some surface parking on the corner of Ahrens Street and Queen Street for accessible parking and caregivers with young children.

This library access is a temporary accommodation only. Once our new addition is completed later this fall, there will be elevator and stairwell access directly into the library.


Click here for a site plan showing parking and pedestrian access to the Main Library.

Follow this link to the City of Kitchener's website on downtown parking options.

Construction Timeline Video!

Follow this link for a short video montage showing our construction progress from spring 2010 until June 2012.   What a difference to our library!

Central Library Construction:  Spring 2010 - June 2012

We anticipate that first phase of our shared underground parking garage will be open in early July, 2012;  followed by the completion of our new addition at the rear of the library later this fall.

Once the new addition is completed, all Main Library operations will temporarily move to the new space so that renovation work can begin on the original library building.

Our move to the new addition will require the TEMPORARY closure of the Main Library for about 3 weeks.   However, please note that all four of our Community Libraries remain open as usual.

We will announce more details on this temporary closure later this summer.

Follow the project’s progress in photos at:
http://www.kpl.org/central/prg_photos.html

Read relevant project and library stories at:
http://www.kpl.org/central/prg_media.html

Join in the conversation at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com\kitchenerlibrary
Twitter: www.twitter.com\kitchlibrary

New Rear Addition Taking Shape!

The first phase of the shared underground parking garage is nearing completion and work is progressing rapidly on the library’s new two-story rear addition. Support columns are already being poured on the second floor of the addition!

When the new addition is completed later this summer, the library will temporarily move into the new space, utilizing the new underground parking. The next phase of the project will then begin and will see the complete renovation of all three floors of the original library building, and the construction of the second half of the underground parking garage.

Sometime during the summer of 2012, a temporary closure of the Main Library will be required to facilitate the move into our new addition. Details of this temporary closure will be provided closer to the actual move. 

As always, our four community libraries will remain open as usual and we anticipate minimal disruption to library service.

New rear addition from atop the adjacent Region buliding

















Second floor of new rear addition in progress

Waffle ceiling being installed

Interior view of waffle ceiling

Follow the project’s progress in photos at:
http://www.kpl.org/central/prg_photos.html

Read relevant project and library stories at:
http://www.kpl.org/central/prg_media.html

Join in the conversation at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com\kitchenerlibrary
Twitter: www.twitter.com\kitchlibrary


 

What a difference one year can make!

January 25, 2011
Demolition work progresses in preparation for construction on phase one of the 3-level underground parking garage. 

January 25, 2012
Phase one the of 3-level underground parking garage is
nearing completion!

Concrete columns will be poured today in preparation for construction of the new 25,000 square foot addition which is being built on top of the phase one portion of the underground.

When the new addition in completed later this summer, the library will temporarily move into the new space, utilizing the new underground parking, while the next phase of the project takes over. The final phase will see the complete renovation of all three floors of the original library building, and the construction of the second half of the underground parking garage.


Follow the project’s progress in photos at:
http://www.kpl.org/central/prg_photos.html

Read relevant project and library stories at:
http://www.kpl.org/central/prg_media.html

Join in the conversation at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com\kitchenerlibrary
Twitter: www.twitter.com\kitchlibrary