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Central Library
Located in Library Square which occupies a full city block: bounded by Homer, Hamilton, Robson and Georgia Streets.
Public transit
Bus
- 17 Oak / Downtown on Robson Street at Hamilton Street
- 20 Victoria / Downtown on Richards Street on Dunsmuir Street
- 4 Powell / Downtown / UBC on Granville Street at West Georgia Street
- 6 Davie / Downtown on Granville Street at West Georgia Street
- 7 Nanaimo Station / Dunbar on Granville Street at West Georgia Street
- 10 Granville / Downtown on Granville Street at West Georgia Street
- 14 Hastings / UBC on Granville Street at West Georgia Street
- 16 29th Station / Arbutus on Granville Street at West Georgia Street
- 50 Waterfront Station / False Creek South on Granville Street at West Georgia Street
- HandyDart drop off on Hamilton Street between Georgia Street and Robson Street. The drop off is designated "Passenger" zone
SkyTrain
- 7 minute walk from City Centre (Canada Line) and Stadium Stations (Expo Line / Millennium Line) on Granville Street.
Cycling
Bike Lanes
- Homer Street (Shared Use Lane)
Bike Racks
- Bike racks on the left of North entrance, and on the far left of the South entrance
Parking
Pay Parking
- The entrance to the Easy Park parking garage below the library building is on Hamilton Street (near Robson Street)
- Specially designated handicapped parking stalls beside doors to the elevators in the parking garage
- 2 hour meter parking is available around Library Square
Unique Spaces
Unique Collections
Canadian Census statistical reports from 1851; historical federal Sessional Papers; B.C. and federal Hansard Debates; Journals of the Senate, House of Commons and B.C. Legislature; and B.C. and federal Gazettes. These offer early election results, Royal Commission reports, transcripts and minutes.
Focused on Canadian records, such as nominal Census records and BC civil registrations, and includes resources for other countries, in print, microfilm and digital formats. VPL cardholders also have access to the holdings of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City with the assistance of a staff member.
Central Library offers more than 50 newspapers in print from Vancouver, BC, Canada and around the world, archival microfilm of many Vancouver newspapers and Canadian newspapers from major cities including Victoria.
Learn about the collection in our guide.
As part of Vancouver Public Library’s work to advance the goals of the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action all VPL branches have Indigenous collections. These collections were developed in consultation with community organizations in Vancouver.
The Indigenous Collection contains content for all ages, and is for all those who want to gain a better appreciation of First Nations history and culture and want to learn and understand more about Indigenous Peoples. The Indigenous Collection highlights, acknowledges and honours the unique cultures and experiences of Indigenous communities, including individuals living in an urban setting, and includes titles that reflect the impact of residential schools and the theme of reconciliation.Current and historical statutes and regulations for BC and Canada; City of Vancouver Bylaws; national, BC and municipal building, plumbing, fire and electrical codes.
Along with more than 120 magazines to borrow for all ages, the Central Library provides nearly 1,000 magazines and journals for use in the library, across topics as wide ranging as current events, sports, art, literature, music, business and science.
Lending library of musical instruments, instructional books and DVDs, musical scores and songbooks, music parts and folders for instrument ensembles.
VPL maintains the Northwest History Collection, a heritage collection about BC and the Northwest Coast, which includes directories for BC communities back to the 1800s, books, periodicals, early BC newspapers on microfilm, maps, pamphlets and ephemera, as well as historical Canadian literary works, children's books and over 250,000 historical photographs. Learn more about how you can access our local history collections, online or in the library.
Important notice: Construction at central library and Special Collections temporary closure
Owing to construction work on the building expansion, Special Collections (Level 7) will be closed until further notice. Please contact us if you have questions regarding construction impacts. Thank you for your understanding while we expand your central library.Indexing and exhibition catalogues on Canadian artists; research files on visual artists who have lived and worked in BC that include news articles, gallery mailings, and pamphlets; research files on local art galleries.
VPL’s zine collection covers a wide range of topics, often representing marginalized viewpoints not found in mainstream publishing. Zines are handmade, underground publications that resemble little magazines. They are most often a labour of love, inspired by a need to communicate and connect, or to disseminate art or political ideas.
World Languages
This collection has material in Arabic for all ages.
This collection has material in Chinese for all ages.
The collection includes materials in French for all ages.
This collection has material in German for all ages.
This collection has material in Hindi for all ages.
This collection has material in Italian for all ages.
This collection has material in Japanese for all ages.
This collection has material in Korean for all ages.
This collection has material in Persian/Farsi for all ages.
This collection has material in Polish for all ages.
This collection has material in Portuguese for all ages.
This collection has material in Punjabi for all ages.
This collection has material in Russian for all ages.
This collection has material in Spanish for all ages.
This collection has material in Tagalog for all ages.
This collection has material in Vietnamese for all ages.