There are some great libraries in the capital city of Canada. We’ve featured 10 top public libraries in Ottawa in the list below.
1. Main
Main is a public library located in Ottawa, Ontario. The hub branch of the Ottawa Public Library, Main is centrally located in downtown Ottawa. The library is a lending library that offers books for use on the premises and to borrow for use at home. Returning borrowed materials are easy with Main’s Book Drop which is open 24 hours a day.
Main has a number of services for visitors, including microfilm and microfiche readers, gaming systems and Chromebooks. Library staff at Main are available for one on one tutorials with interested visitors. Renovated in 2014, children and adults alike can enjoy their time reading and studying in expanded spaces at Main.
Plan a trip to Main!
2. St. Laurent
Situated at 515 Côté, St. Laurent is a public library that is a part of the Ottawa Public Library system. The facility is open five days a week, closing on Friday and Sunday. They are proud to be a community centre library, operating within the Don Gamble Community Centre, providing convenient services to local visitors within their community.
St. Laurent is wheelchair accessible is provides free parking. Situated on the west end of the Don Gamble community centre, visitors can not only browse through and borrow library materials but also consider purchasing second-hand books through St. Laurent. St. Laurent also offers a great selection of French language reading material and books for children.
Check out St. Laurent!
3. Nepean Centrepointe
Nepean Centrepointe is a public library in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The library is located in the Ben Franklin Place complex on Centrepointe Drive. Nepean Centrepointe offers books to borrow for use at home and reference materials to consult within the library. Business people can rely on Nepean Centrepointe’s meeting rooms, which are available for reservation by any library card holder.
Among the different services that are available at Nepean Centrepointe, one that stands out is the Imagine Space. The Imagine Space is an area equipped with machinery including 3D printing and modelling, laser cutting and photo/video editing to support local residents with the equipment needed to pursue their ambitions. Business.
Connect with Nepean Centrepoint.
4. Sunnyside
Located on Bank Street in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Sunnyside is a public library committed to providing services to the neighbouring community. Sunnyside is within walking distance of the renowned Rideau Canal, where visitors can enjoy time skating in the winter.
Sunnyside is a lending library with a full complement of children’s books available to young families in the Ottawa area. Guests can recycle batteries at Sunnyside, as well as take advantage of the library’s Chromebooks and scanning services, in addition to looking at some of the great selection of books at Sunnyside.
Take a look at what else Sunnyside is able to offer you!
5. Carlingwood
With three floors of facilities and rows of books for reference and to borrow for use at home, Carlingwood is a reliable public library in Ottawa, Ontario. A branch of the Ottawa Public Library network, Carlingwood is strategically placed on the corner of Woodroffe Avenue and Saville Row.
Guests and visitors can enjoy an incredible time with friends and family at Carlingwood, within the clean, renovated interior. Families can enjoy a great time reading with children in Carlingwood’s children’s section. Students and adults can enjoy their time at Carlingwood, either reading on their sofas or studying on the computers available on the premises.
Contact staff at Carlingwood for more information!
6. Emerald Plaza
Emerald Plaza is a public library in Ottawa, Ontario, and a branch of the Ottawa Public Library network. Visitors to Emerald Plaza will benefit from the resources that are available at Emerald Plaza including their range of books for children and adults.
Emerald Plaza can be accessed at its location within a plaza on Merivale Road by a number of bus lines. Despite the busyness of the branch, staff are well known here for their patience and hospitality to guests, no matter the request. For students and adults looking for spaces to read and work, there are plenty of tables available for self-study and reading.
Find out more about Emerald Plaza here.
7. Rideau
Rideau is a public library in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada has is famous for more than just the beautiful exterior of its building. The library was originally opened in 1934 by Robert Borden, a former Canadian prime minister, and visitors often comment about how appropriate the historic building for a public library in the nation’s capital.
Rideau is conveniently located on Rideau Street, an area of Ottawa which has a lot to offer visitors. The public library provides visitors access to their substantial collection of fiction and non-fiction books. Rideau is a lending and reference library, with books for loan or to use on the premises. Guests can also enjoy other non-book resources, such as a wide variety of artwork displayed, dating from 1945 to 2015.
Discover what Rideau has to offer!
8. Greenboro
Open five days a week for visitors, Greenboro is a public library that services the local community. Located in Ottawa, Ontario, it is attached to Greenboro Community Centre, a space created to provide services including learning, recreational activities like sports and other events for children, and is a source of useful local information for students and adults.
Visitors to Greenboro can look forward to the wide range of books available at Greenboro, including materials for children, students and adults. There are private study spaces as well as computers that have Internet access available for use upon reservation with a library card.
Speak to staff at Greenboro!
9. Hazeldean
Hazeldean is a public library that is situated in Ottawa, Ontario. A branch of the Ottawa Public Library network, Hazeldean was renovated in 2012 and as a result can now offer a range of services for guests, such as the use of their convenient RFID system, and self-check-in and out for guests, as well as their reconfigured library space with a single service point.
Whether by bus or car, Hazeldean is a convenient location to visit for families, students or professionals. There is free parking at Hazeldean, and it is located near a number of bus lines. Chromebooks are available for use with reservation, as well as gaming for those interested.
Learn more about Hazeldean here.
10. Centennial
Located in Ottawa, Ontario, Centennial is a public library housed in a beautiful building designed by renowned architect Hans Stutz. Opening its doors to visitors in 1967, Centennial is a well-known landmark for locals for its unique octagon shape. It is equally well known for the quality of the books and other resources available within the library.
A wide range of fiction and non-fiction books are available at Centennial, including books for children, students, and adults. Families will enjoy using the dedicated children’s spaces at Centennial, and students and professionals can benefit from some of the study and workspaces available within the premises. Guests planning on visiting Centennial during the summer should note that library opening hours may change during the summer season.
You can find out more about Centennial here.