Vancouver Public Library – Kensington Branch

Nice small library with terrible hours. Why is a library opening at noon half the week? I always seem to go there when it’s closed. Today I walked there in the rain only to return empty handed.

First-​time-​walking-​into-​a-​library-​in-​about-​two-​years review.
Kensington Branch is a funny little place that lies within the large complex of King Edward Village. Although it can still be considered a new location since it’s opening, it really doesn’t show in the layout and design of this library. Yes, I am going to use the word design since it is developed as a planned location for a VPL branch. You would find everything you’d expect from a library. Friendly staff, free wifi, and the absolutely quietness that is a library.
The most interesting thing I can tell you about Kensington Branch is that this library is extreme unlucky when it comes to anything regarding water. They have had many leaks from the apartments above and/​or pipe problems that causes them to close for a day or two. It happens every so often. Bad luck maybe? Anyways. I’m reviewing a library. I think that is all I can say about it since I don’t believe you would change your mind if you have already decided to go to one and study at.

Nice neighbourhood library, lucky for the condo residents above it.
Obviously smaller than most, but does the job, plus they have free origami classes on every 4^th Saturday of the month, just bring yr own paper.
Quiet room avail, only 5 spots and not for claustrophobics.

I want to love this branch of the VPL for three main reasons.
1. It is very close to my house.
2. It is a library.
3. It looks so bright and fun.
I don’t love it for these three reasons:
1. It keeps flooding. If I were joking it would bother me less. It has flooded easily 2 or 3 times since it opened.
2. It doesn’t have the books it says it does. You go online and look at the books and that doesn’t match what’s actually in the branch.
3. It has really odd hours. As someone who works 9 – 5 I like a library to be open a bit later, and it is not.
The library itself is very small, it’s got a decent selection of books and a big study area. In terms of the support to the community it provides there seem to always be reading groups and activities. There are some great kids books and the design of the library is quite awesome. They’ve got these big book, designed painting along the roof which just look awesome.
All in all, I fully support a library in my neighbourhood. I hope they’ve fixed what was leading to the flooding and that they can get a beter system of synching what’s in the library to what’s online.

My dad banned me from borrowing books from the library when I was about 11. He wasn’t against education but he was against paying my fines & fees for not returning my books on time or at all. I was allowed to go but I wasn’t allowed to borrow.
~17 years later I decide its time for me to borrow library books again. Books are expensive and as much as I love having books on my bookshelf, my dollar just isn’t getting as far as it used to. PLUS, I take care of books so I would be a good candidate for the library. I think. I just need to make sure I return them now.
The clerk was so friendly. Explaining all the fees and reminding me that I don’t want to pay them. She congratulated me on having a card again. She was so super friendly it made me smile and I felt like I just got my first credit card.
Only I have to return the books this time cause my dad won’t pay for my fees.
So far, I love this place.

The new Kensington branch of the public library is a great example of what such places should be. It’s bright, comfortable and relatively spacious. They have a great selection of kids books, which is the main reason we go there, including French options.
My only complaint is that I just wish they would put the public computer workstations somewhere else. I understand why they belong in libraries, but realistically they just end up getting used by kids for games which can be very distracting — but that’s not peculiar to this branch.

Moved to new location across from the old one room store front. Gone is the old charm, replaced by an expansive, bright and modern local library full of new books.