Library Services

The mission of the St. Marys Public Library is to provide free and equitable access to library services. The Library preserves and promotes universal access to a broad range of knowledge, experience, information and ideas in a welcoming and supportive environment. The Library provides a variety of services that are listed below. 

On this page: 

1. Access to Library materials 
2. Meeting room access
3. Download Library
4. Home delivery services 
5. Interlibrary loan
6. Online resources 
7. Library pantry 

Access to Library materials 

Access to Library materials includes books, eBooks, digital Audiobooks, digital video downloads, DVDs, video games, audiobooks on CD and much, much more. Refer to our catalogue for a more detailed list of available materials.

Meeting room access

The Library has one large meeting room available for booking that is suitable for groups of approximately 30 people. The room is well suited to classes, small group work, service and hobby clubs, small presentations and more. 

Use of the meeting room if free for non-profit groups and activities and is charged at a rate of $20.00/hour when booked by for-profit groups or activities. Included in room rental is use of tables and chairs, as needed. 

If you would like to request a room rental, please fill out the room rental request form, read and attest that you have agreed to the terms and conditions of use therein, and wait for confirmation from Library staff. You should expect an email or telephone reply to your request in no more than three business days from the date of your request submission.

If you have an urgent, or same day meeting room request, or would like more information about rentals, please call the Library at 519-284-3346 or email us. 

Download Library

The Download Library is your source to access the Library's collection of e-books and audiobooks for use on iPads, tablets, smartphones, KOBOs and more. With over 1000 titles there's something for everyone and every age! 

Home delivery 

Visiting Library Services is available to Library Cardholders who are confined to a private residence or institution. The Library provides Visiting Library Service to eligible members who, for reasons of restricted vision, mobility, or long-term illness, are unable to use regular Library facilities. Delivery during the winter months is also available.

Monthly library deliveries are made to the following senior's residences in St. Marys: Kingsway Lodge, Wildwood Nursing Home and Fairhill Lodge.

How Visiting Library Service Works

Material Selection: Materials are selected by library staff based on your personal reading profile. You can also request specific titles, authors and subjects of interest. Visiting library users are also welcome to place their own holds for monthly delivery using our online catalogue.

Collections: A wide selection of fiction and non-fiction titles are available, from classics to the latest bestsellers, in hardcover, paperback and audiobook CDs. Special formats are also available, such as Large Print Books and CELA DAISY audiobooks. In addition, users are able to borrow Magazines, DVDs and Music CDs.

The Visiting Library will deliver material to your home approximately every 4 weeks. We do our best to make sure the delivery service runs smoothly. To help us, please keep the following in mind: Loan Period: Materials from your delivery are due to be returned on the date of your next delivery; this time period is usually 4 weeks.

Requests: We encourage you to take an active role in your material selection. Please contact the library via note, letter, e-mail or phone with any specific title, author or subject requests you may have. Ask library staff how you can select your own books online.

Service Changes: If for any reason you need to suspend your service due to vacation, illness or change of address please contact us to let us know.

Renewals: Please notify staff at the Library one week in advance of your delivery if you have any titles that you would like to keep for an extra month. Remember, renewals are not always possible because other patrons may be waiting to enjoy the title. If this is the case, the material must be returned on your next delivery day. Visiting Library staff will be glad to place these titles on hold for you, so that you can receive them again at a later date.

Lost materials: Visiting Library patrons are not charged fines for materials returned late. In the event that materials are not returned, a bill for the replacement cost of the items will be sent to you. If you return these items, the charges will be removed from your account.

For more information about home delivery please contact the library at 519-284-3346.

Interlibrary loan

Interlibrary Loan is a way of borrowing and lending of material between library systems.  If an item cannot be found in the library catalogue your St. Marys Public Public Library card allows you to have access to libraries and archives across Canada.  You are entitled to order 2 interlibrary loans per patron per week. Interlibrary loans can only be renewed by contacting the library.

Online resources

Online resources provide valuable online databases to members of the Library.

Library pantry 

The Library is proud to provide a free Food Pantry to our community. The pantry, and accompanying cold and fresh food fridge, generously funded by our Friends of the Library group, are available to the public anytime during the Library's open hours. The Library also offers a weekly food bag to patrons.

If you are interested in making donations to the pantry, please consider making them in the following ways:

• Donate gift cards in the amount of $15 to Tim Hortons, Foodland, or McDonalds for last minute / immediate needs. 
• Donate 20 of a single item with the bags in mind. For example, 20 cup of soups, 20 small packages of crackers, 20 apple sauces, etc.
• Donate unwanted reusable shopping bags that will be used to pack food bags in every week. 

This initiative was made possible through a generous donation by our foundational donor, the Presbyterian Church of St. Marys.