Hazel McCallion Central Library
The Hazel McCallion Central Library is a library in the City of Mississauga, Ontario. It’s the largest facility in the Mississauga Library System, and one of the largest public libraries in Ontario, with over 180,000 books and other materials.
Contents
This central library is the main hub of a system of libraries in the city that has 18 branches, consisting of the main Mississauga library plus 17 smaller neighbourhood libraries:
- Burnhamthorpe Library
- Churchill Meadows Library (shares facilities with St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School)
- Clarkson Library (shares facilities with the Clarkson Community Centre)
- Cooksville Library
- Courtneypark Library (shares facilities with St. Marcellinus Secondary School)
- Erin Meadows Library (shares facilities with St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School)
- Frank McKechnie Library (shares facilities with the Frank McKechnie Community Centre)
- Lakeview Library
- Lorne Park Library
- Malton Library (shares facilities with the Malton Community Centre)
- Meadowvale Library (shares facilities with the Meadowvale Community Centre)
- Mississauga Valley Library (shares facilities with the Mississauga Valley Community Centre)
- Port Credit Library
- Sheridan Library
- South Common Library
- Streetsville Library
- Woodlands Library
The combined 18 branches of the Mississauga library system are expected to welcome over 5.2 million visitors during 2025.
Until recently, this main branch was known as the Mississauga Central Library. It originally opened its doors to the public on September 23, 1991.
After serving the community for 30 years, the library closed on March 20, 2021, to undergo a major renovation.
Building renovations were designed by RDH Architects of Toronto.
What are the Renovations?
Public Art
The most noticable change is a major piece of digital public art that is located in the atrium of the building. This is called Lightfall and it was created by Vancouver artist Nathan Whitford.
Lightfall consists of a series of cascading coloured digital lights that flow through the atrium of the building, from the top floor to the basement.
But there are many other changes as well.
Gaming Room
Visitors can access gaming computer stations, console stations and virtual reality (VR) stations at Hazel McCallion Central Library’s gaming room.
Customers must be at least 13 years old to use the gaming room without parental supervision. Individuals under the age of 13 must be accompanied by a parent to access the gaming room, and are prohibited from using the VR stations.
Gaming stations
- There are five gaming stations in total
- All sessions are one hour long
- A valid Steam account is required to use gaming stations. Connect with library staff for help with creating a Steam account.
Console stations
- There are five console stations
- Consoles include Microsoft Xbox Series X, Sony Playstation 5 and Nintendo Switch
- All sessions are one hour long
- A valid library card is required to sign out console controllers for same-day, in-library usage
VR station
- There is one PlayStation VR2 station
- All sessions are 30 minutes long
- A valid library card is required to sign out VR headsets and controllers for same-day, in-library usage
Children’s Area
There is an interactive children’s space located on the first floor that features collections for all ages and attractions suitable for children’s activities.
Special features include the following:
- Children’s touch tables and computers
- Computer stations for parents
- Interactive displays
Drop-ins are welcome and no library card is needed to access the space.
Meeting Rooms
There are 15 meeting rooms at the Hazel McCallion Central Library. Rooms have an occupancy limit of four to six people and are equipped with a monitor.
All meeting rooms are bookable by the public and don’t require a library card.
Noel Ryan Auditorium
The Noel Ryan Auditorium is a multi-use theatre-style performance space with 240 seats.
The auditorium can be booked for various events, which can be live-streamed or broadcast.
Sky Reading Lounge
Encased in glass and overlooking Celebration Square, this new 6,000 square-foot reading lounge on the fourth floor provides you with a quiet space to read, study or lounge in.
The Sky Reading Lounge is available on a drop-in basis, and no valid library card is required to access this space.
Name Change
In early January of 2023, while renovations were underway, it was decided to rename the library the Hazel McCallion Central Library, in honour of public figure and longtime Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion.
Shortly thereafter, on Jan 29, 2023, Ms. McCallion passed away at the age of 101.
The Hazel McCallion Library had a soft reopening under its new name on Dec 21, 2023. It operated under reduced hours for a period of time, but has now returned to its regular full operating schedule.
The library is owned and operated by the City of Mississauga. It’s open year-round. The building is easily accessible, with ample parking, and there is plenty of public transit in the area.
Online Reviews
Online reviews for the central library in Mississauga are very positive. Google reviews currently rank at 4.5 out of 5, with hundreds of reviews given.
Where is the Hazel McCallion Central Library?
The Hazel McCallion Central Library is located right at Celebration Square and directly across from the Mississauga Civic Centre (City Hall), and the Art Gallery of Mississauga. It’s a one minute walk from the Living Arts Centre, and a two minute walk from the Square One Shopping Centre.
Address: 301 Burnhamthorpe Road West
Mississauga, ON L5B 3Y3
Phone number: 905-615-3500
Website: City of Mississauga website
Central Library Hours:
- Sun 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
- Mon 9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
- Tue 9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
- Wed 9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
- Thu 9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
- Fri 9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
- Sat 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Foundation Year: 1991
Pets: only service animals are allowed
Smoking: no smoking
Accessibility: wheelchair and stroller friendly
Public Washrooms: multiple, wheelchair accessible
Wi-Fi: there is free Wi-Fi at the library
Admission: free
How do I get there?
As mentioned above, the Hazel McCallion Central Library is in the Square One City Centre area of Mississauga. You can easily walk there from the dozens of high rise condominiums that surround it, and you can easily reach it by car from anywhere. Highway 403 is close nearby, as is the QEW highway. See the above map for directions.
Parking
The library provides paid underground parking during regular daylight hours. Underground parking is free on weekdays after 6 p.m. and on weekends.
Clearly marked wheelchair access parking spaces are located next to the elevators on levels P1 and P2.
Hazel McCallion Central Library has electric vehicle charging stations on level P3.
Public Transportation
The Mississauga central library is easily accessible by public transportation and is within walking distance of the Mississauga City Centre Transit Terminal. This is the central hub for MiWay bus routes, and will soon be a stop on the Hazel McCallion LRT.
There are express buses that run from the Toronto Kipling Station to the transit terminal. Nearest heavy rail commuter train station is the Cooksville GO Station.
Conclusion
The Hazel McCallion Central Library is one of the top places to visit in Mississauga. With its abundance of books, periodicals, and digital assets, the library has something for everyone.
The central library is one of the core facilities that provide benefits to the Mississauga community.
It is designed for diverse interests, passions and convenience. With dedicated spaces for both children and adults, you will find opportunities for community learning and engagement throughout the entire facility.
Whether you’re a student, a researcher, or you simply enjoy reading and expanding your knowledge, visiting the Hazel McCallion Central Library is one of the top things to do in Mississauga.
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