Atwater Library and Computer Centre

The Atwater Library currently offers our members close to 40,000 items. We have a good selection of English-language books in print and e-formats (eBooks and audiobooks) as well as periodicals, DVDs and other materials.

• Hardcover and paperback books – fiction, nonfiction, biography, mystery, travel, and computer books (mostly English language, some French)
• Close to 1,000 large-print books
• eBooks and eAudiobooks
• Over 100 audio-books on CDs – including language learning CDs for French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Chinese
• Reference materials: encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, indexes, handbooks, maps, phone books, etc.
• Magazines and newspapers (English and French)
• More than 3,300 DVDs and growing, including movies, TV series, documentary films, productions of Shakespeare’s plays, and operas
• 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

Over 875 books and DVDs
View the complete listings by entering “Black Collection” in the KEYWORDS field of our Online Catalogue.

Heritage Collection

Over 800 volumes
View the complete listing by entering “Heritage Collection” in the KEYWORDS 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.

Indigenous Collection

Over 350 books and DVDs
View the complete listing by entering “Indigenous Collection” in the KEYWORDS field of our Online Catalogue.  

We started this collection of books and DVDs about the Indigenous peoples of Canada in 2017 as part of our Atwater Reads the TRC project.

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 the present day
The material is all available online here.

Opera DVD Collection

Approximately 100 DVDs of opera productions
To see the selection, enter “opera DVD collection” in the KEYWORDS filed of our Online Catalogue. 

Quebec Writers’ Federation Collection

Over 1,800 books
View the complete listings by entering QWF in the CALL NO field of our Online Catalogue. 

This collection has been developed with the generous support of the QWF.

Scottish Collection

Over 1,900 books, eBooks, audiobooks and DVDs
View the complete listings by entering “Scottish Collection” in the KEYWORDS field of our Online Catalogue. 

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.