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FAQ

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How Can I Borrow Materials?
  • You must present your card each time you borrow material. Please consider using our easy-to-use self-checkout.
  • You may not check out material or use the public computers with someone else's card.
  • You are responsible for returning material on time, and for paying overdue fees.
  • Items can be renewed twice. Items with holds cannot be renewed.
  • Your account will be blocked if fines are over $10, if you have lost or damaged items,  or if you have 3 or more items overdue.
  • You are responsible for all material checked out on your card.

Loan Periods and Borrowing Limits
Loan Periods and Borrowing Limits Per Item

Item

Adult & Teen Item

Limit

Child Item

Limit

Shelter, New to YK and

Non-Residents

Limit

Loan

Period

Books

20

20

1

3 weeks

DVDs

5

5

1

1 week

Audiobooks/CDs

5

5

1

3 weeks

Kits

3

3

1

3 weeks

Magazines

5

5

1

1 week

Interlibrary Loans

3

3

No loan

Up to lending library

 Please check our Fees for the current charge

Lost and Damaged Items
  • You will not be able to borrow until payment is made or lost material is returned in good condition
  • Lost/damaged material is invoiced at replacement value + $5 processing fee. Items overdue for  more than 6 weeks  are considered lost.

Renewals
  • 2 renewals allowed except when another patron wants the material or if it is an Interlibrary Loan
  • Online renewal is available via the catalogue page. Please visit the online catalogue:
  1. click on the Catalogue tab (menu bar on the left)
  2. select catalogue and then my account
  3. renew my materials
  4. enter your library card and pin number
  5. Note: only material that is not overdue can be renewed this way.
  • Email the library requesting a renewal
  • Phone the library to renew
  • Renew with our self-check computer

Claims Returned

Feel you have returned an item and are getting overdue notices?

  • Please take one more look at home for it
  • Contact the library to have us search for it here
  • If we find the item, we will check back in and remove the fines for item
  • If we don't find the item, we will be in touch

Can I Donate Materials?

The Library welcomes good quality donations. If donated items meet collection standards they will be added; if not, your donations will be placed on the free rack or contributed to the book sale. Please no more than 25 items per household per drop-off.

Due to limited space we do not accept

  • Nonfiction published prior to 2016.
  • Magazines, specialized journals, newspapers, catalogues, colouring or workbooks.
  • Encyclopedias, abridged books, textbooks or Reader's Digest condensed books.
  • Books with broken bindings or missing pages.
  • Books marked with highlighter pen or containing handwritten notes or gifting dedications.
  • Books with yellowed or brittle pages.
  • Smoke or mildew affected materials.
  • Cassettes, VHS tapes.
  • Computer software.
  • Scratched CDs and DVDs.
  • Federal and territorial government reports.
  • Travel books older than 2019.

Types of items that will be accepted

  • Fiction or non-fiction books in all genres in good condition and on timely or popular topics.
  • Children's books in good condition.
  • Young adult books in good condition.
  • Large print books in good condition.
  • Local history materials and works by local and Canadian authors.
  • DVDs, CDs, recorded books, and language kits in good condition.

Donation Delivery

Your donations may be delivered to the library during regular hours. Items must be in boxes marked as donation for the Library.

Tax Receipts

We do not issue tax receipts for donated material.
What Computing and Printing Services Do You Offer?

Computers
  • 8 public access stations
  • Your library card gives you access to one hour of free Internet use per day
  • You may purchase additional time provided there is no one waiting. The cost is $5.50 per hour.
  • The computers connect to a black and white printer. Please check our Fees for the current charge

Wireless
  • The Circulation desk will provide you with a username and password
  • You will get access to two hours of free wireless per day. 
  • You may purchase additional time. Please check our Fees for the current charge
  • The network is called YPLNet and a username and password is required

Photocopier

  • The library has a black and white photocopier

  • Please check our Fees for the current charge
Do You Offer Exam Invigilation?

 

  • Invigilation (proctoring) of both online and handwritten exams during library hours
  • Check our Fees for the current charge
  • For online exams, ensure you test that our/your computer will access the site you require beforehand
  • Check that your learning institution recognizes the library as a provider of this service
How Can I Borrow Materials From Other Libraries?

You can't find what you are looking for at our library? Saw it in the catalogue but in another community? Did not see it in the catalogue? Try requesting an interlibrary loan.

 

Northern Interlibrary Loans
  • Need a library card to make a request
  • Libraries will lend books, DVDs, and CDs
  • Lending library may so no to the request due to popularity at their library
  • No fee for the loan but late charges will be applied if not returned on time.  Please check our Fees for the current charges

Southern Interlibrary Loans
  • Need a library card to request
  • Library will lend books, microfilm
  • Will not lend CDs and DVDs
  • Lending library may not fill the request due to popularity at their library
  • If library charges a fee, we will pass on that fee to you to pay and late charges will be applied if not returned on time. Check our Fess for the current charges
How Do I Get a Library Card?

Library cards are free to Yellowknifers and can be used in any library in the NT. There is a replacement charge for lost or damaged cards. Check our Fees for the current charge

Types of membership:

What you need to bring to get a card:

 Adult & Teen (14 and up)
  • One piece of valid photo ID with your current Yellowknife address, or
  • One piece of ID and a bill that has your current Yellowknife Address

 Child (13 and under)
  • A Parent or guardian must be a member of the library
  • Parent or guardian must fill out a member card for the child and sign that they are responsible for any materials borrowed

 Shelter Residents
  • Current contact information
  • Letter from your shelter or temporary housing

Please note card is good for 3 months and may be renewed if needed. Card is limited to five items.

 Internet User

ID - photo or no photo

Please note this card is for using the computer only. No borrowing on this card.

 CELA users

Card is for those borrowing audiobooks provided by the CELA Library. This card is for patrons who have a print disability only.

Report lost or stolen cards right away. You are responsible for any materials borrowed on your card.

 New to Yellowknife and Visitors to the Northwest Territories
For residents who have not yet acquired proof of address yet or are visiting the Northwest Territories, all we need is your name and address information. You can borrow one item for one week.  Also this card can be upgraded to full access card with proof of residency. Residents from other Northwest Territories communities can use their community library cards.
Do You Have Rooms for Rent?

Meeting Room
  • Our meeting room's capacity is 130. It is 1310.75 sq. ft.
  • Rental of the room includes access to kitchen, wireless (one hour), tables (12) and chairs (65).
  • Profit groups are required to pay to use the room. Please check our Fees for the rental rates.
  • Non-profit groups may use the room free of charge.
  • We only book three months in advance.
  • Audiovisual and coffee making equipment are NOT available.
  • Library reserves the right to refuse or cancel bookings based on availability and scheduling of Library or City programs and events.
  • To book the meeting room please email library@yellowknife.ca or phone 920-5642

Writer's Room

The Yellowknife Public Library is pleased to be able to offer its residents and visiting authors and illustrators a quiet and private room in which to work. Our Writers' Room is equipped with a desktop computer, two desks and chairs, lamps and a bookcase. Please feel welcome to book this room.

  • The Writer's Room can be booked for a maximum of 3 hours/day, up to 2 times/week, per group or family.
  • Bookings can be made up to one week in advance.
  • Bookings will be cancelled if the user is more than 30 minutes late without notifying the library staff.
  • Extended use may be authorized by the Library Manager on a case-by-case basis (i.e. writers, exams, etc).
  • Personal items are not to be left in the Writer's Room - they will be placed in our lost and found.
  • To book the writer's room, please call 920-5642 and select "Circulation" from the menu.
Can You Help With My Research Project?

 General Reference
  • EBSCO Host - Canadian Reference Center - offers online access to the largest collection of full-text Regional Canadian and International content including Maclean's, Canadian Geographic, the Toronto Star, La Presse Canadienne, and many more. 
  • Canadian Oxford Dictionary
  • Reference books (in-library use only) including dictionaries, mult-language dictionaries, thesauri, almanacs, manuals, themed encyclopaedias, and more. These are complemented by our extensive non-fiction collection which can be borrowed.
  • 8 public computers and free wifi for online research and printing
  • Stop by our information desk where our friendly and informative staff would love to assist in all your research and school assignment inquiries

 News

Current northern newspapers from regions across all three territories.

 Northern Interest Publications
  • Up Here
  • EdgeYK
  • Above & Beyond
  • The Circle
  • We also have a large reference collection of northern themed books that may be useful to your local and northern research needs
What Services and Resources Do You Offer to People Who Are Brand New to Yellowknife?

Yellowknife Public Library welcomes all newcomers to Yellowknife, whether you are a short term visitor or potentially making the city your new home. We can set you up with a "New to Yellowknife" membership card to tie you over until you have a permanent residency or issue a visitor's card (see Membership). Plus, our programs are a great way to meet new people with a common interest (see Programs).

 

For other services and information that is especially helpful to newcomers (including assistance applying for health care cards, access to counseling for culture shock, help with housing applications, enrollment in schools, and more), we recommend the following:

Aurora College Integration Office

Northern Frontier Visitors Centre

And, of course, the City of Yellowknife website has a special section just for newcomers (see the Newcomers tab at the top of this page). 

 
Are You Looking For Volunteers?

Would you like to help out at the library? Volunteers are asked to sign up at the front desk of the library from there the librarian will be in touch if we require help.
I Have A Great Idea For A Program. Will You Help?

The library is looking for Yellowknifers and Yellowknife non-profit groups who may want to partner with the library on a program. The library will consider partnering on programs that are educational in nature and/or have a literacy focus or those that seek to grow, strengthen, or unite communities. Some of the programs we have done are:

  • Been There, Done That Narrated Traveler Slideshows 
  • Local author events
  • Opera Screenings
  • Family Violence Awareness Week Display and Film Night
  • Ptarmicon Display and Giveaway
  • Zine writing
  • PRIDE Week display and picture book resources
  • International Literacy Day Breakfast

 

What are the benefits of partnering?

  • Venue
  • Cross-promotion
  • Reach
  • Resources

 

If you have a partnership idea, contact John at (867) 669-3452 or email jmutford@yellowknife.ca 
Do You Have Any Fees or Charges?

Most resources and services at Yellowknife Public Library are free with the following exceptions:

 

Meeting Room & Writer's Room 

Meeting Room

Profit and government groups are required to pay to use the room.

 

Public Library Room Rental Fees
Meeting roomFee Effective September 1, 2021
Non-profit group

no charge
For-profit group
  • $500.50/day
  • $250.25/half day
  • $62.50/hour
Adult $25.50/hour
Adult/Youth $19.25/hour
Youth $12.75/hour
Writer's Room - For Profit User $13.25/hour

 

Registered non-profit groups may use the room free of charge. 

Writer's Room

Tutors (that are charging their clients) and Profit Groups will be charged for using the room.

 

Public Library Writer's Room Fee
Writer's RoomFee Effective September 1, 2021
For Profit User $13.25/hour

 

Non-profit and individual students/writers are able to use free of charge

Others

 

Overdue Book Fines
Overdue Book Fines

Fee Effective September 1, 2021

Yellowknife Public Library books $0.00/day
Inter-Library Loans $1.00/day
Videos/DVDs $0.00/day
Other Library Fees
Others

Fee Effective September 1, 2021

Internet use

  • City computer for use in excess of 1 hour
  • Mobile devices for use in excess of 2 hours

$6.25

$6.00
Membership card no charge
Replacement card $1.00/each
Photocopying (black and white) $0.25/copy
Computer printing (black and white) $0.25/black and white copy
Lost materials replacement cost + $5.00
Exam invigilation $51.00

 

Book Club

Contacts

eServices

A to Z Services

Contact Us

Hours of Operation

Winter Hours effective following the Labour Day Weekend
until prior to the Victoria Day Weekend (September to May)
Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: Closed

Summer Hours effective following the Victoria Day Weekend
until prior to the Labour Day Weekend (May to September)
Monday to Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: Closed

Mailing Address & Phone Numbers

Yellowknife City Hall
4807 - 52 Street, P.O. Box 580, Yellowknife, NT X1A 2N4

Switchboard - (867) 920-5600
Mayor/City Manager - (867) 920-5634
Booking Clerk - (867) 669-3457
Municipal Enforcement (MED) - (867) 920-5630
After Hours (MED) - (867) 920-2737
After Hours (Public Works) - (867) 920-5699

General Contact Directory Staff Directory Complaints