Students

Study spaces, free resources, programs and more all for students!

Students, access our free resources to help you study hard and play hard. Whether you're from out-of-town or a KW local, we're here for you!

WaterlooFest

Visit us at WaterlooFest taking place on Thursday, September 7 from 4pm to 7pm. Enjoy the City of Waterloo's welcome event for post-secondary students at the Public Square in Uptown Waterloo. Learn about the library, sign up for programs and events, play outdoor games, and more!

Exam Care Kits (November 27 to December 21)

Receive a free mini exam-care package at any of our locations between November 27 to December 21 or while supplies last. Filled with goodies to pump you up, these care packages will help you get through those exam blahs. Simply ask staff at any of our locations to receive your care kit.

*1 per person, while supplies last

Sign Up for a Library Card

Signing up for a WPL card is free and easy! With your library card you can access premium resources like LinkedIn Learning, Simply Analytics, and Ancestry for FREE. We've got so much available to help you on your journey through school.

How to Get a Card

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Sign-Up In-Person

To sign-up for a library card in-person:

Visit any WPL location.
Show us your current student card with proof of your Waterloo address or permanent address. If you live on campus, you can show your permanent address with your student card.
That's it! You will receive a physical library card that will be valid for one year, and will need to be renewed after this time.

Sign-Up Online

To sign-up for a library card online:

Go to: wpl.ca/get-a-card
Read through the information.
Click the Register for a Library Card button.
Fill in the registration form and click Submit.
You will receive a barcode for a temporary digital library card that will be valid for 90 days.
After 90 days, your card will need to be renewed in-person at any WPL location, and you will receive a regular (i.e. physical) library card that will be valid for one year and will need to be renewed annually.

FAQs

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Does it matter where I go to school?

Nope! If you are living in Waterloo Region and can show us a current student ID from a local post-secondary institution, you are able to sign up for a library card.

Students in high school can register for a library card by showing proof of their local permanent address.

How long is my library card valid?

Regular (i.e. physical) library cards must be renewed once per year. If you signed-up for a card online, you will receive a temporary digital library card, which will be valid for 90 days, and will need to be renewed after this time.

To renew you library card:

visit any Waterloo Public Library location
phone 519-886-1310 ext. 110
email askus@wpl.ca

If I don’t have proof of my local address, can I still sign up for a library card?

Yes! Visit any WPL location with your student card and proof of your permanent address (even if it’s outside of KW) and we will issue you a library card.

What if I move to another place in KW?

No problem. When you come into a library location, let a staff member know that your local address has changed.

If I live on campus, can I sign up for a library card?

Yes! Visit any WPL location with your student card and proof of your permanent address (even if it’s outside of KW) and we will issue you a library card.

What happens if my card is lost or stolen?

Notify the library immediately if your card is lost or stolen. You must show identification and proof of address to get a replacement library card. Replacement library cards cost $3.00.

What types of ID do you accept?

Accepted forms of personal identification include:

Driver’s License
Student ID Card
Passport
Credit Card
Bus Pass

Accepted address verification:

Driver's License
Recent utility bill
Recent rental agreement
Recent tax bill

Study Rooms & Spaces

Study Rooms

Looking for a space to work on group projects, or study as a group or on your own? Book a study room at the John M. Harper Branch or Eastside Branch for FREE. Study room bookings have a limit of 3 hours per day per customer, but may be extended for an additional hour as long as the room remains available. Check with staff on the day of your visit.

Book a Study Room

Study Spaces

Individual study seats are also available in common areas at all of our library locations. Advance bookings are not required.

Digispace (Digital Recording Studio)

Our Digispace is a set of two rooms set up for recording audio. One section of the space is a sound-proofed booth, and the other is the control room with computers, equipment, and software to manage the recording process. The use of the Digispace is entirely FREE, and it can be reconfigured however you need to accomplish your recording.

Learn more & book now

Digital Library

Access free resources in our Digital Library, including:

LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com)
Simply Analytics
Ancestry (Genealogy, Family Trees, and Family History Records)
PressReader (digital magazines and newspapers)
The New York Times
DownloadLibrary (for eBooks & eAudiobooks)
Academic OneFile (for peer-reviewed articles)
And much more!

Digital Library

Cool Things to Borrow... for FREE!

Libraries have way more than just books! Check out some of these cools things you can borrow - for FREE - with your library card.

Ice Skates

Available at our Eastside Branch