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
Mechanics' institutes, also known as mechanics' institutions, sometimes simply known as institutes, and also called schools of arts (especially in the Australian colonies), were educational establishments originally formed to provide adult ed ...
) and the Frontenac County Library, creating a 17-branch system. The KFPL serves the city of
Kingston
Kingston may refer to:
Places
* List of places called Kingston, including the six most populated:
** Kingston, Jamaica
** Kingston upon Hull, England
** City of Kingston, Victoria, Australia
** Kingston, Ontario, Canada
** Kingston upon Thames, ...
and
Frontenac County
Frontenac County is a county and census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. It is located in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario. The city of Kingston is in the Frontenac census division, but is separated from the County of Front ...
in
Ontario
Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
, 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
*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
Mechanics' institutes, also known as mechanics' institutions, sometimes simply known as institutes, and also called schools of arts (especially in the Australian colonies), were educational establishments originally formed to provide adult ed ...
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
Mechanics' institutes, also known as mechanics' institutions, sometimes simply known as institutes, and also called schools of arts (especially in the Australian colonies), were educational establishments originally formed to provide adult ed ...
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
*
Ontario Public Libraries
This is a list of public libraries in Ontario. 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 the Public L ...
References
External links
Kingston Frontenac Public LibraryOfficial City of Kingston WebsiteKingston Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society Website
{{Authority control
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 Ontario
1998 establishments in Ontario
Libraries established in 1998