Ready. Set. READ!

EPL welcomes everyone, and we share every day.

The Edmonton Public Library has grown from a place for books to a place for people. EPL makes it possible for Edmontonians to connect, learn and belong.

While we proudly offer traditional library services, we find innovative, creative and cutting-edge ways to provide relevant resources, the latest technology and a diverse offering of programs for all ages. Services are available at our 21 locations, online and beyond library walls. Working with hundreds of partner organizations in our communities, we bring services to customers when and where they need them – in hospitals, schools, community centers and even the correctional system.

A place for everyone

EPL is a gathering place for people and ideas, and enables a lifetime of learning, engagement and possibility for every member of our community. In 2022, we welcomed 10.2 million virtual and in-person visits, transformed our in-person classes and events to an online platform and loaned out 10.8 million items. Our previous fundraising activities also continue to have a strong impact on Edmontonians. In 2020, we reopened our main downtown location our Stanley A. Milner Library, a place where our community can learn, create, discover and grow. 

Great libraries shape great cities

Public libraries are vital to the economic, social and cultural foundation of any vibrant, rich and thriving society. With a legacy of innovation and a trademark of excellence, EPL is inspired every day to provide the best service for our customers.

Can you imagine a house without books?

For many children in Edmonton this is their reality. The Edmonton Public Library provides amazing spaces, resources and classes that support early literacy, but many families still face barriers that impact their ability to fully use everything the library makes available. The global pandemic has made access even more challenging.

Ready. Set. READ! is a new EPL initiative in partnership with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Your donation today will help deliver new books to children every month from birth to age five. These books are theirs to keep forever — for many children, this will be the first book they have ever owned.