Montreal Central Library
IMPORTANT : This library was closed with the opening of LA GRANDE BIBLIOTHÈQUENovember 4, 2000
Part of Montreal's network of municipal libraries , the Central Library stands proudly as an architectural masterpiece on Sherbrooke Street, just a few blocks east of St.Denis Street, across from the south-western corner of Lafontaine Park. Built in 1915 by Eugene Payette, it was inaugurated in 1917. It was also beautifully renovated a few years ago when part of the collections had to be moved due to extreme weight which was endangering the structure of the building.
It now contains over 3,000,000 documents grouped in various collections like scientific books, encyclopediaes, novels, children's books (Biblio-parents collection), youth, teenagers, comics, government publications, language courses, magazines, newspapers, special collections, cassette books, talking books, CDs, educating games and posters.
All collections, whether regular, reference or special, can be consulted by visitors without the need for a library card. The library card is required however when borrowing books, reserving a CD booth or using a micro-fiche reader.
Other services include the Biblio-bus which is a mobile library stopping in 15 service points throughout Montreal with 36,000 books and documents in English and French for youth and adult readers. There is also Biblio-courrier, a mail and reservation service for senior citizens or people with reduced mobility.
All City of Montreal residents can obtain a free library card upon presentation of proper identification. Non Montreal residents can also obtain a library card at a fee currently set at $88 per year. Youth 13 years old and under must get their registration card signed by their mother, father or tutor.
Books can usually be borrowed in quantities of four at a time, and for a period of 3 weeks. This may vary, however, if you choose to borrow from your district library. Here is a list of all 23 district libraries of the City of Montreal. These libraries do not include local libraries sponsored by other municipalities in and around Montreal, like the one in Westmount. However, there is a network of the Montreal Island Municipal Libraries that aims at providing practical information to residents of other towns and municipalities located on the Island of Montreal.
All books, documents and CDs are listed in the computerized
management system called Merlin. Terminals are available throughout the various
rooms and floors in order for users to consult the data base. Instructions on
how to use the terminals are available in printed documents. Merlin terminals
also include collections of other computerized libraries.
The Montreal Central Library, 1210 Sherbrooke Street East, Montreal H2L 1L9, Phone: (514) 872-5923
Metro: Sherbrooke Station on the orange line or Beaudry on the green line.
Current Winter Opening Hours REMOVED.
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Opening days and hours in all Montreal libraries are usually shortened during the school summer holidays.
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