Vancouver Public Library

The Vancouver Public Library’s main branch is in a modern coliseum-style building on West Georgia Street in downtown Vancouver.

The place is home to millions of books and resource materials. The library also hosts lots of events. Continue reading below to learn more.

The Vancouver Public Library’s Main Branch in Downtown Vancouver

The Vancouver Public Library has 21 different locations throughout the city. The main branch is the Central Library. It’s a big building that covers one whole block of Vancouver’s downtown core.

Open since 1995, the Central Library occupies all nine floors of the building. The architecture is a beautiful combination of shapes. It’s a rectangle surrounded by an oval with one part extending further than the rest. The library is over 400,000 square feet in size. It’s so big, in fact, that there are conveyors to help move books throughout the building.

The Central Library offers more than a million books to borrow. It’s visited by millions of people each year. There are computers, charging stations, meeting rooms and free Wi-Fi for everyone. Another highlight of the building is the spacious rooftop garden with plants and places to sit. The Central Library also offers music resources, a film collection, newspapers, a theatre and a special area with rotating exhibitions.

As with other libraries, almost everything is free with a library card!

Location and Hours

The Central Branch of the Vancouver Public Library is located at 350 West Georgia Street. It’s bordered by Homer Street, Hamilton Street and Robson Street. The building is easy to get to using public transit. It’s about a 5-minute walk from Granville SkyTrain Station. There’s also an Easy Park parking garage under the building that’s accessible via Hamilton Street.

As of early 2025, the library is open from 9:30 am to 8:30 pm on Monday to Thursday. Friday hours are from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm. The library operates from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on Saturdays and from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm on Sundays. It’s usually closed on statutory holidays.

Black History Month Events

All sorts of events take place at the Central Branch of the Vancouver Public Library. Categories include writing workshops, story-time sessions, film screenings, computer courses, library tours and more. Special events take place from time to time as well, including a book sale.

In February of 2025 there are several events happening at the Central Library with a Black History Month theme. Below are details about some of the events recognizing and celebrating Black Canadians.

Tuesday, February 11th, 2025

Sounds & Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land – a five-part film series that explores the genre of reggae music in Canada. Featured artists include Nana McLean, Leroy Sibbles, Johnny Osbourne and more. The event takes place from 6:00 to 7:30 pm in the library’s Montalbano Family Theatre.
Afro-Latinx Short Stories Reading Group – running from 6:00 to 8:30 pm, this event is a special edition of a reading group presented by the Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre. Stories to discuss include Mayra Santos-Febres’ Resins by Aurelia and Oso Blanco.

Wednesday, February 12th, 2025

Verses of Power: Black Poets Speak Out – spoken word performances featuring poets Brandon Wint, Fanny Kearse and Adonis King. The show runs from 7:00 to 8:00 pm in the library’s theatre.

Saturday, February 15th, 2025

African Fashion Week Vancouver: Heritage in Motion Fashion Show – a special preview of African Fashion Week Vancouver. There’s a runway show, inspirational talk and more to enjoy. The show begins at 3:00 pm and ends two hours later.

Tuesday, February 18th, 2025

Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story – this event is a film screening at the library’s theatre. The film is all about the trans singer who mysteriously disappeared from the public eye. The screening takes place from 6:00 to 7:45 pm.

Wednesday, February 19th, 2025

Afro-Latinx Cineclub: Pelo Malo – a screening of Pelo Malo which is about a Venezuelan boy, his curly hair and his relationship with his mother. There’s also a discussion with Coral Santana after the film. The event runs from 6:00 to 8:15 pm.

Saturday, February 22nd, 2025

Black History Month Celebration – intended for young children and their families, this event offers story telling and music performances by special guests. The event runs from 10:00 am until noon.

Wednesday, February 26th, 2025

Afro-Latinx Cineclub: Dólares de Arena – a film screening in the library’s theatre starting at 6:00 pm. Today’s movie is Dólares de Arena which is a love-filled drama about a European woman and a Dominican woman. The screening is followed by a discussion led by Coral Santana.

For more events and other ways to celebrate the month, see our article about Black History Month.