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Updates and News

August 8, 2018

Local History and Genealogy

The Library's local history and genealogy collections are still available, with most of the collection housed at the Isabel Turner Branch while the renovations to the Central Branch are taking place. Select resources are being stored at our temporary warehouse space and will require a couple of days notice to be transferred to another branch for use. The library catalogue lists the current locations of all items in the collection.

Once the renovations are complete, these collections will move back to the Central Branch. They're moving one floor up into a lovely light-filled space in the Bishop's House, the limestone portion of the building at the corner of Bagot and Johnson streets. The adult non-fiction, local history and genealogy, microfilm and vertical file collections are being brought together with a variety of seating options and convenient printing, copying and scanning facilities. The second floor is a quieter space, more suitable for research and study.

Visit our website for more information on the Library's local history and genealogy collections.

June 28, 2018

Central Branch to Re-Open Fall 2018

After Kingston City Council approved lease extensions for the temporary spaces at 18 St Remy Place and 209 Wellington Street, the Library invited Darryn Davis from CKWS to discuss the Central Branch renovation project and the revised schedule, which has the library re-opening in October 2018.  Watch read his piece on the CKWS website

Everyone on the project team is working hard to complete the renovations and really appreciates the support and patience of our community and patrons.

June 2, 2018

The Artistry of the Brick

The re-installation of the brick is being coordinated with the new windows and frames, and is almost complete! To ensure a seamless finish, some of the new bricks will be hand-painted to match the original bricks.

Facade of Central Branch

The artist's palette. There are several different colours of brick.

brick colours

A section of wall with old and new brick, after painting. 

after painting the brick

April 26, 2018

Spring update!

With the warmer weather now here, work is moving forward quickly on the exterior of the building! New windows are being installed and brick is getting replaced and repaired on the Johnson Street side of the building.  You might notice that the new brick looks a little different than the original brick - and it is, for now! We matched the new brick as close as possible to the existing brick and will be hand-staining the new bricks to match the rest of the bricks later this Spring. 

Central Window

New windows above the parking garage.

Central Interior

Acoustic panels and light fixtures being installed in the large second floor meeting room. 

Central Interior

New light fixtures on the first floor in the adult fiction area. 

Central Exterior

New insulation and brick being installed.

March 15, 2018

Libraries in the News

Thanks to Darryn Davis at CKWS, you can get a look behind the scenes of the Central Branch renovation project. Click here to see Darryn chat with Rob Crothers, Project Manager and Laura Carter, Director, Branch Experience.  Library renovations were also featured in the Kingston Whig-Standard in February. You can read Steph Crosier's story here

For a broader look at what's happening in Kingston's libraries, read "Kingston's Libraries, Reinvented" in the March/April edition of Kingston Life magazine.

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