The Kingston Frontenac Public Library (KFPL) was established in 1998 through the amalgamation of the Kingston Public Library (which began as a 19th-century
Mechanics Institute) and the Frontenac County Library, creating a 17-branch system. The KFPL serves the city of
Kingston and
Frontenac County in
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
, Canada. The library regularly welcomes visitors from outside of this region.
[County of Frontenac. (n.d.). County of Frontenac. Retrieved January 20, 2010, from http://www.frontenaccounty.ca/] The KFPL has a board made up of appointees and representatives from
Kingston City Council an
Frontenac County Council The board operates using the
Carver Model.
Services
*Information and reference services
*Access to full text databases
*Community information
*Internet access
*Reader's advisory services
*Programs for children, youth and adults
* Delivery to homebound individuals
* Interlibrary loan
* Free downloadable audiobooks and e-books
History
It was one of a series of
Mechanics' Institutes that were set up around the world after becoming popular in Britain. It housed a subscription library that allowed members who paid a fee to borrow books. The
Mechanics' Institutes libraries eventually became public libraries when the establishment of free libraries occurred.
[Harris, Michael. History Of Libraries In The Western World. 4th ed. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1995, p. 153.] The Mechanics Institute in Kingston was founded in 1834; in 1895, the Kingston Public Library was established, making it one of the first public libraries in Canada.
Branches
There are five branches within the city of Kingston and eleven branches throughout Frontenac County. The library branches include:
*Arden
*Calvin Park
*Central (main branch)
*Cloyne
*Hartington
*Howe Island
*Isabel Turner
*Mountain Grove
*Parham
*Pittsburgh
*Plevna
*Rideau Heights
*Sharbot Lake
*Storrington
*Sydenham
*Wolfe Island
See also
*
Ask Ontario
Ask Ontario (askON) is a realtime chat and SMS-based research information service that connects students of Ontario, Canada to staff at college libraries across the province, for instant-messaging and SMS-based reference help online. askON's mandat ...
*
Ontario Public Libraries
This is a list of public libraries in Ontario.
Background
Ontario public libraries are created by municipal by-laws and governed by public library boards. The Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture has responsibility for the administration of t ...
References
External links
Kingston Frontenac Public LibraryOfficial City of Kingston WebsiteKingston Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society Website
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Education in Frontenac County
Public libraries in Ontario
Buildings and structures in Kingston, Ontario
Education in Kingston, Ontario
Libraries established in 1895
1895 establishments in Canada