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    Allison Library

    5.0 (1 review)
    Open 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

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    10 years ago

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    Vancouver Public Library - Central - Looking up

    Vancouver Public Library - Central

    4.4(137 reviews)
    9.4 kmDowntown

    vancouver public library is a wealth of information and resources for the community, housed in a…read morestriking building designed to resemble a modern day coliseum. the library provides accessible services to help ensure everyone can use the space comfortably, along with social services and community support resources. it also regularly features events such as talks, workshops, and activities for different age groups. the architecture is organized across several levels. the lower level is currently under construction. level 2 contains the main entrance, information desk, children's collection, library card services, and borrowing services. level 3 focuses on digital creativity, featuring the inspiration lab. this space provides free access to soundproof recording studios, including three sound booths for small groups and the larger terry mcbride recording studio for video and photography. to use these, you can book a session online up to two weeks in advance with your library card, allowing for a maximum of three hours per day. level 4 has collections related to business, cookbooks, esl, and fashion. level 5 is a quiet floor with newspapers and magazines available. level 6 holds dvds, music cds, and spoken word materials. level 7 includes special collections and human resources. level 8 features meeting rooms, a reading room, an eating area, temporary exhibit space, the family theatre, and several outdoor patios for fresh air while you work. level 9 includes additional meeting rooms and a very nice rooftop garden that serves as a great escape with a panoramic view of the city skyline. this green space is even equipped with solar panels that help power the ninth floor. beyond books, the library hosts a musical instrument lending library. you can borrow a variety of instruments free of charge for up to three weeks, including acoustic and electric guitars, violins, ukuleles, and keyboards. to borrow one, simply check the library catalogue to see if it is available and visit the service desk at the central library. inside the building, there are also several convenient services and businesses, including a td machine, blenz coffee, a convenience store, gift store, dental clinic, bike shop, and onigiri ya. together, these resources make the library a welcoming and useful place to study, learn, and spend time.

    If I lived here, I'd go to the library at least twice a week (unlike now, where I only check out…read moreebooks online, and go in once every two years when they make me verify my residency). What an incredible resource for the citizens of Vancouver! We had a long layover so we explored every single floor of this library. There were so many computer stations if you needed to do work online, but also so many little nooks with comfy seating to settle down in with a good book. The rooftop had an incredible view of downtown Vancouver, and the atrium was nice and warm. There was currently an "electronic concert" going on where there were chairs set up so people could listen to recordings played over the speakers in the atrium. I thought it was a really neat way to get the community together to listen, discuss, and engage with one another.

    Photos
    Vancouver Public Library - Central
    Vancouver Public Library - Central
    Vancouver Public Library - Central - Entrance to library atrium~

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    Entrance to library atrium~

    Vancouver Public Library - Firehall - Entrance to the Vancouver Public Library Firehall Branch.

    Vancouver Public Library - Firehall

    3.8(6 reviews)
    7.7 kmSouth Granville, Fairview Slopes

    A very clean, quiet library beside the fire station. The computers and printers are easy to use…read more I have had my library card since 2008 and it still works well. The staff are friendly and helpful. Inside the library there are enough tables and chairs and of course books. A very happy, spacious place.

    All of my friends know that I spend a lot of time reading books. I can plow through a book in a…read moreday, so this is where the library comes in handy. The Firehall Branch is the closest one to me, so I end up going there the most. The Firehall Branch is on the second floor on W 10th Ave between Granville and Hemlock Street. It's a short walk from the 99 B-Line stop at Granville Street. The library itself is pretty small. They have a decent selection of children's literature, fiction, magazines and dvds. They also have computers available that you can pay to use. The best strategy with this library is to put books on hold online, then request them for pickup at the Firehall Branch. I find it can take up to 4 days for a book to be transferred from a different branch, but you receive an email as soon as the book is ready for pick up. The books you put on hold are alphabetically organized on the shelves to the right of the check out counter. There are two express check out stations, as well as two librarians available to check out books for you, which makes things really efficient. The hours of the branch are a bit lackluster compared to other locations. It's open on Tuesday and Wednesday from 11 AM to 8 PM, and Thursday to Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM. It makes it easy enough to pick up books after work, but I wish this branch was open on Sundays as well. Also, I find the librarians aren't as friendly as you'd expect. I donated a huge bag full of plastic bags since they had a sign up asking for some, and the librarian seemed annoyed. If you're looking for super cheap paperbacks and books, this branch sells books for as low as 50 cents each. It's a great deal if you want a new book to read and don't mind its condition. I give this branch 4 stars because I've had no problems getting in any book I've desired in a reasonable time frame. For a small branch, it's in a great, convenient location. If you want a new book to read, save yourself some cash and borrow it from the library!

    Photos
    Vancouver Public Library - Firehall - More seating outside.

    More seating outside.

    Vancouver Public Library - Firehall - Just up a few stairs. There is also an elevator if needed.

    Just up a few stairs. There is also an elevator if needed.

    Vancouver Public Library - Firehall - A welcoming place to sit.

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    A welcoming place to sit.

    Vancouver Public Library - Kensington - Exterior of the Kensington Branch of the Vancouver Public Library

    Vancouver Public Library - Kensington

    3.7(9 reviews)
    12.4 kmKensington-Cedar Cottage

    I love this branch of the library! I use it as a study space often, they have limited seating in…read morethe main area, but there's a room with some tables and chairs that is nice to use (although, can sometimes be closed for events). Every time I've interacted with the staff, they've been the absolute best! Helpful, kind, and clearly happy to work there. My only negative about the location is the washroom. It's normally pretty clean, but the location is not great. They don't have paper towels, only a hand dryer, and it's so close to the rest of the library that you can often hear when it's being used. It's not that big of a deal, but makes me not want to sit as far away as I can get.

    As I don't live or work in the area, I rarely use the Kensington branch of the Vancouver Public…read moreLibrary. However, it's near my boyfriend's house, so it's convenient for me to drop off books when in the area (I love how you can return books at any branch), and unlike the Central Library downtown, my primary library, you don't have to use those horrible, slow, often malfunctioning scanners to return books; just hand them to the librarian/leave them on the desk. And like all branches, if the library is closed, you can return books in the drop box. Even though it's a small branch, having a library in an area I frequent is always a good thing. On Friday I needed to print something, so I used the printer at the library, and I also found just the books I was interested in -- travel guides for Portland and San Francisco (I have an upcoming trip to Portland and San Francisco June 28 to July 8). If I lived in the area and this were my primary branch, being small and having limited books wouldn't really matter, as you can request any book in the VPL system to be delivered to any branch of your choosing. The one main downside to this branch is the limited hours. They are only open 1pm-5pm on Sundays, and closed on Mondays. [Yelp collections: Libraries and Bookstores]

    Photos
    Vancouver Public Library - Kensington - You can see one of the Peaceable Kingdom figures at the entrance.

    You can see one of the Peaceable Kingdom figures at the entrance.

    Vancouver Public Library - Kensington
    Vancouver Public Library - Kensington

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    Allison Library - libraries - Updated May 2026

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