Long considered as simple book depositories, libraries in Quebec, and particularly those in Greater Montreal, are transforming into dynamic cultural centers
The City of Montreal manages a network of 46 libraries spread across its 19 boroughs.
This text explores this evolution, highlighting the impressive number of establishments, the services they offer, as well as their social and economic impact, making them essential and economically profitable institutions for the community.
Inspired by the idea of visiting libraries as one would visit museums, these institutions are reinventing themselves to become true spaces for discovery and exchange.
They are no longer simple buildings, but true architectural works that showcase local heritage while offering a modern and stimulating environment.
The Greater Montreal network has an impressive number of establishments.
The City of Montreal alone manages a network of 46 libraries spread across its 19 boroughs.
In addition, the Grande Bibliothèque of BAnQ, located in the heart of the city, acts as a central institution for the entire province, adding to the richness of the offer.
Beyond their primary function, these libraries offer a range of services that rival the greatest museums:
Diversified Collections: In addition to printed books, they offer loans of video games, vinyl records, and even passes to visit partner museums, such as the Canadian Centre for Architecture or the Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art.
Socialization Hubs: They are community centers where one can participate in workshops, attend exhibitions, or simply relax in modern and comfortable reading spaces.
Access to Technology: Many establishments are modernizing by offering technological equipment and online services, while also strengthening Internet access for all.
These efforts have significant benefits. In 2022, Quebec's public libraries recorded more than 29 million entries and a total number of loans that continues to grow. In terms of economic statistics, Quebec libraries are a very profitable investment.
A 2022 study revealed that for every dollar invested, libraries return more than 5.4 times that amount in benefits to the community.
Although the heritage and library sector represents 0.7 billion dollars of Quebec's GDP, its social and cultural impact is priceless.
List of libraries in Greater Montreal:
The City of Montreal network includes libraries in the following boroughs:
Ahuntsic-Cartierville
Hélène Charbonneau: 10300, rue Lajeunesse
Cartierville: 5900, rue de Salaberry
Salaberry (jeunes): 4170, rue de Salaberry
Anjou
Jean-Corbeil: 7500, avenue Goncourt
Du Haut-Anjou: 7070, rue Jarry Est
Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
Benny: 6400, avenue Monkland
Bibliothèque interculturelle: 6767, chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges
Côte-des-Neiges: 5290, chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges
Notre-Dame-de-Grâce: 3755, rue Botrel
Lachine
Saul-Bellow: 3100, rue Saint-Antoine
Saint-Pierre: 183, rue des Érables
LaSalle
L'Octogone: 1080, avenue Dollard
L'Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève
L'Île-Bizard: 500, montée de l'Église
Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
Hochelaga (jeunes): 1870, rue Davidson
Langelier: 6473, rue Sherbrooke Est
Maisonneuve: 4120, rue Ontario Est
Mercier: 8105, rue Hochelaga
Montréal-Nord
Henri-Bourassa: 5499, boulevard Henri-Bourassa Est
Yves-Ryan: 4740, rue de Charleroi
Belleville: 10400, avenue de Belleville
Bibliothèque de la Maison culturelle et communautaire: 12002, boulevard Rolland
Outremont
Bibliothèque Robert-Bourassa: 41, avenue Saint-Just
Pierrefonds-Roxboro
Pierrefonds: 13555, boulevard Pierrefonds
William-G.-Boll: 110, rue Cartier
Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
Mordecai-Richler: 5434, avenue du Parc
Plateau-Mont-Royal: 465, avenue du Mont-Royal Est
Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles
Serge-Bouchard: 14001, rue Notre-Dame Est, Pointe-aux-Trembles
Rivière-des-Prairies: 9001, boulevard Perras
Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie
La Petite-Patrie: 6707, avenue De Lorimier
Rosemont: 3131, boulevard Rosemont
Marc-Favreau: 500, boulevard Rosemont
Saint-Laurent
Vieux-Saint-Laurent: 1380, rue de l'Église
Du Boisé: 2727, boulevard Thimens
Saint-Léonard
De Saint-Léonard: 8420, boulevard Lacordaire
Le Sud-Ouest
Réjean-Ducharme: 2450, rue Workman
Marie-Uguay: 6052, boulevard Monk
Saint-Henri: 4707, rue Notre-Dame Ouest
Verdun
Centre culturel et communautaire Marcel-Giroux: 4501, rue du Banquier
De l'Île-des-Soeurs: 260, chemin de la Pointe-Nord
Maison de la culture de Verdun: 5955, avenue Bannantyne
Ville-Marie
Frontenac: 2550, rue Ontario Est
Georges-Vanier: 2450, rue Workman (same address as Réjean-Ducharme, this is an error in the original text; it is actually the Maison de la culture Marie-Uguay)
Maison de la culture du Plateau Mont-Royal: 465, avenue du Mont-Royal Est (same address as the Plateau Mont-Royal library)
Saint-Jacques: 2550, rue Ontario Est (same address as the Frontenac library)
Saint-Michel: 7605, rue du Jarry Est (address of the Maison de la culture de Saint-Michel)
Since our network also includes territories reached by our public transport systems STM, EXO, and REM, we also add:
Longueuil Libraries
Bibliothèque Claude-Henri-Grignon: 1660, rue Bourassa, Longueuil, J4J 3A4
Bibliothèque Muriel-Anne-Brown: 225, rue Empire, Longueuil, J4V 1T9
Bibliothèque Georges-Dor: 2760, chemin de Chambly, Longueuil, J4L 1M6
Bibliothèque Hubert-Perron: 1100, rue Beauregard, Longueuil, J4K 2L1
Bibliothèque J.-W.-Gendron: 3875, Grande Allée, Longueuil, J4T 2V8
Bibliothèque Jacques-Ferron: 100, rue Saint-Laurent Ouest, Longueuil, J4H 1M1
Bibliothèque Raymond-Lévesque: 7025, boulevard Cousineau, Longueuil, J3Y 0H1
Laval Libraries
Bibliothèque Émile-Nelligan: 325, boulevard Cartier Ouest, Laval, H7N 2J5
Bibliothèque Gabrielle-Roy: 3505, boulevard Dagenais Ouest, Laval, H7P 4V9
Bibliothèque Germaine-Guèvremont: 2900, boulevard de la Concorde Est, Laval, H7E 2B6
Bibliothèque Laure-Conan: 2707, boulevard des Laurentides, Laval, H7K 2M4
Bibliothèque Marius-Barbeau: 6090, rue des Érables, Laval, H7L 4R8
Bibliothèque Joséphine-Marchand: 1200, boulevard Chomedey, Laval, H7V 3Z3
Bibliothèque Philippe-Panneton: 4290, boulevard des Mille-Îles, Laval, H7R 1E7
Bibliothèque Sylvain-Garneau: 100, rue Curé-Labelle, Laval, H7L 2V7
Bibliothèque Yves-Thériault: 4333, boulevard Notre-Dame, Laval, H7W 1T4
Brossard Library
Bibliothèque de Brossard Georgette-Lepage: 7855, avenue San-Francisco, Brossard, J4X 2A4
Libraries contribute to reducing social inequalities by offering free access to culture and information.
They also play a crucial role in the integration of immigrants and the socialization of seniors.