At the heart of Kingston Frontenac Public Library’s work is what urban planners call a third place: a space in between home and work where community life happens, with no financial barriers to entry. In a city with fewer and fewer such spaces, the library occupies a rare position.
Today, with 16 branches across nearly 4,000 square kilometres, approximately 59,000 active cardholders, and over 500,000 visits annually, the Library is one of the most widely used public institutions in the region.
Bringing that mission to life requires dedicated staff working across multiple fronts. Specialized librarians focus on different audiences: children, teens, new adults, and adults. These librarians coordinate programs that have become central to the Library's community role. The Teen Advisory Group draws young people who don't just attend events but plan them, from a career fair that brought over 100 teens to the Roots and Shoots literacy fair organized by the Kingston Youth Climate Council. Multi-generational programs, including portrait-drawing events and intergenerational story times, aim to build new connections and strengthen community belonging.
Community partnerships have also become central to the Library's work. Through partnerships, KFPL has been able to expand its impact and work with community groups to amplify their mission. For example, KFPL worked with the Chinese Canadian Association of Kingston and District to bring a Lunar New Year celebration to the Central Branch and in summer, staff take programs into parks and Springer Market Square. Support from the Community Foundation has helped make programming like the wireless internet hotspot program possible, serving connectivity gaps in rural areas as well as an Indigenous placemaking project at the newly renovated Isabel Turner Branch.
Many patrons may not know the full scope of what their library card unlocks. Beyond books, DVDs and video games, KFPL lends wireless internet hotspots, STEM kits and museum and park passes, including admission to the Royal Ontario Museum, the National Gallery, Upper Canada Village, Fort Henry, and local Ontario Parks. A Create Space with a 3D printer rounds out the offering.
“Libraries support personal growth and lifelong learning, as well as provide safe spaces for the community to gather. While our collection remains a core part of our service, we strive to play a part in creating resilient, well-informed communities where people have access to resources and spaces that support their wellbeing,” says Laura Carter, Chief Librarian and CEO.
The Library navigates a difficult balance: staying open and welcoming to everyone while addressing systemic challenges like mental health, housing, and addiction that no single institution can solve. It endures as one of the few remaining spaces where people can come without financial expectation, where everyone belongs.
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