Collections

Reading

General Collection
The Atwater Library currently offers our users over 38,000 books and other materials, mostly in English and some in French, as well as audio books, some music CDs, and a growing number of movie DVDs.

The Library collection includes:

  • Hardcover and paperback books - fiction, non-fiction, biography, mystery, travel, and computer books
  • Reference materials: encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, indexes, handbooks, maps, phone books, etc.
  • Magazines and newspapers (English and French)
  • Approximately 1,000 large-print books
  • About 200 audio-books - mostly books on cassette tape and a few on CDs
  • More than 550 movie DVDs and growing
  • Some music CDs
  • Archives of our organization, dating back to the founding in 1828, some of which are digitized and posted on this website

There are some specialty or focus collections which are listed below in alphabetical order.

Black Collection
Approximately 500 books
View the complete listings by entering "Black Collection" in the subject field of our Online Catalogue.

DVDs - Movies
Approximately 550 DVDs
View the complete listings by entering "DVD" in the subject field of our Online Catalogue.

Heritage Collection
Approximately 725 volumes
View the complete listing by entering "Heritage Collection" in the subject field of our Online Catalogue.
The lower level of the Atwater Library and Computer Centre houses the Heritage Collection. This collection consists of rare books that were part of the Mechanics’ Institute’s original collection, as well as many acquired over the years through generous donations. Browsing through the collection is like looking at a snapshot of Canadian history. Interested members can find any item in the collection in the online catalogue, but the items are available for consultation only. Requests for consultation should be submitted at the circulation desk. Please enjoy this one-of-a-kind collection.

Lifelong Learning Collection
Approximately 60 booklets
This collection is located next to the circulation desk.
These are materials for adults learning to read and developing their reading skills. This special collection was developed cooperatively by The Centre for Literacy, RECLAIM and the Atwater Library and was launched in 2007. 

Montreal and Lovell's Directories
1849-50, 1860-61, 1863 to present day
These volumes are located on the lower level of our Library. Ask at the circulation desk for help acessing them.  The material is all available online at http://bibnum2.bnquebec.ca/bna/lovell/index.html

Quebec Writers' Federation Collection
Close to 1,000 books
This collection has been developed with the generous support of the QWF.
View the complete listings by entering "QWF" in the Anywhere field of our Online Catalogue.

Scottish Collection
Approximately 1,235 books and DVDs
This collection has been developed with the generous support of the St. Andrew's Society of Montreal. It's an eclectic collection that includes materials by Scots and people of Scottish descent, and about the history and culture of Scotland and the Scottish diaspora.
View the complete listings by entering "Scottish Collection" in the subject field of our Online Catalogue.