Library

Hours of Operation:

• Monday to Thursday 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
• Friday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Saturday 10:00 am to 2:00 pm 

*We are closed on Saturdays during the months of July, August and the beginning of September and will re-open the first Saturday after Labour Day weekend.

The Prescott Public Library is governed by a ten member board, including nine citizens and one council member. The board is appointed by the Town of Prescott Council and derives its jurisdiction from the Public Libraries Act.

When there are vacancies for the Prescott Public Library Board, they will be posted here. We are not currently accepting applications for Board member positions.

2024 Board Members

The Board meets monthly at Town Hall in the Ruth Evanson Room. Library Board agendas and minutes are posted below:  

• Pre-1864- Union Library
• 1864- Mechanics Institute
• 1895- Prescott Public Library formed & adopted 30 rules & regulations
• 1912- expanded in Town Hall
• 1921- Town Council votes to support public library
• 1961- moved from old Town Hall to new Municipal building
• 1974- expansion & renovation--air conditioned, Librarian's office
• 1997- children's room repainted including beautiful mural by Catherine Ring
• 2006 - Rejuvenation of the whole Library thanks to the generosity of the Prescott   Community, expansion into the old gymnasium

• 1880- $1 per person
• 1895- $0.50 per person
• 1999- non-residents pay a yearly membership fee of $30.00 per family, $22.50 per single membership, and $15.00 per student.
• 2023-non-residents pay a yearly membership fee of $40.00 per family, $25.00 per single membership, and $15.00 per student

• Miss Bella Murphy
• Miss S. Tyner- served over 25 years
• Mrs. Gladys Scobie
• Mrs. F. A. Wardrop
• Mrs. Ann Steiner- served over 26 years
• Mrs. Jane McGuire - served over 31 years

The facilities of the Prescott Public library are free to all residents of the Town of Prescott. Resident memberships are renewable every 2 years, and immediate change of address and telephone number are requested.

Non-residents must pay membership fees (as posted) unless taxable property is owned in Prescott. Yearly fees are $40.00 per family, $25.00 per single membership, and $15.00 per student. Short-term memberships are also available.

Membership cards are NOT transferable and MUST be shown to Librarian when borrowing or renewing books. Lost cards must be replaced for $5.00 each.

Adults may borrow as many books as are consistent with their reading requirements for a period of 3 WEEKS at the discretion of the Librarian.

Children may borrow up to 3 books at one time for the same period. We reserve the right to limit the number of books borrowed on any given subject.

Talking Book cassette tapes and CD's may be borrowed for the same period as books. Adult patrons (16 years of age and older) may borrow up to 3 tapes at one time.

DVDs may be borrowed by adult patrons (16 years of age and older) on their membership cards. Limit is 2 DVDs at one time per family. DVD borrowing is 2 days or next opening day, according to list below.

• DVDs borrowed Monday, returned Wednesday
• DVDs borrowed Tuesday, returned Thursday
• DVDs borrowed Thursday, returned Saturday
• DVDs borrowed Friday, returned Monday
• DVDs borrowed Saturday, returned Monday
• Do not leave DVDs in extremely hot or cold places.
• DVDs MUST BE RETURNED BEFORE CLOSING OF THE DAY THAT THEY ARE DUE TO AVOID LATE CHARGES.

On or prior to their due date, renewals may be arranged on application to the Librarian as long as no other patron is waiting for said material. Reserve books are not renewable. There will be no exceptions to this rule!!

Unless renewal arrangements have been made, borrowers retaining books beyond the date designated for their return are subject to OVERDUE CHARGES OF 25¢ PER BOOK FOR ADULTS AND 5¢ PER BOOK FOR CHILDREN.

Books overdue more than 16 weeks are presumed lost. Loss or damage to books while on loan is the responsibility of the borrower (or if under age 16, his/her parents) and the cost of repair or replacement, at current cost, must be paid to the Librarian. OVERDUE CHARGES ARE $1.00 PER DAY PER DVD.

Drop in on Wednesdays from 7-9PM for Board Games Night!

Join in on Tuesdays from 3-7PM

Families are invited to join the fun on Fridays
from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.  Explore the magic of books, songs, rhymes, and engage in fun activities promoting early literacy skills.

This a free program for families.

For more information, call 1-866-433-8933 x 2374.

https://odmc.overdrive.com/

Do you have an E-Reader that you would like to download books onto? Are you taking a trip or enjoy listening to audio books? Overdrive Download Centre gives you access to E-books. To register all you need is the 14 digit barcode located on the back of your card!

The passes cover a family of 5 (2 adults and 3 children) and will get you into the museum for free. Please note that the passes do not cover special exhibits or parking fees.

https://olsn.ent.sirsidynix.net/client/en_US/prescott/ 

• Inter-Library Loans (free of charge from any library in Ontario and from some Colleges and Universities)
• Faxing, scanning, printing and making copies
• Computers with up to date programs like Adobe, MicroSoft Suite and the Library Edition of Ancestory!
• Meeting spaces for both large and small groups
• Various drop-in groups like; StoryTime with EarlyOn, Dungeons and Dragons, The Scribble Society (writing group), Saturday Lego and book club
• Proctoring Exams
• Assistance in filing out online government forms (replacing a birth certificate, SIN card, renewing a health card or driver’s licence)
• Book drop off and pick up if you are unable to visit in person
• Museum passes
• Map Sacks
• Provincial Park passes

Printing services are available at the Prescott Public Library.

The Prescott Public Library is offers lamination services to those who require this service.

Contact library@prescott.ca or call 613-925-4340 for more details.

Printing Rates:

• Printer ($0.25 per black and white copy, $0.50 colour, $1.00 full page of colour)

Computers are intended for the public to use for information, research, entertainment, and e-mail. 

• 4 computers with internet access and word processing
• Adaptive Technology Software and Tools 
• Scanner
• Printer ($0.25 per black and white copy, $0.50 colour, $1.00 full page of colour)
• Photocopier ($0.25 per copy) colour copying is also available for $0.50 per copy; $1.00 for full page copying
• Fax Prices: local and local long distance (613 Area Code) $1.00 first page, $0.50 each additional page; longer distance (outside 613 area code) $2.00 first page, $1.00 each additional page.

Users may browse the Internet, or use the word processing or other software on the computer. See the Prescott Public Library's Acceptable Use Policy stated below.

Acceptable Use Policy