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About Milner Library
Opened in 1967 and renamed in 1996 in honour of library champion Stanley A. Milner for his lifetime of commitment to EPL—this branch is the heart of EPL and downtown. The Milner Library receives over 1.2 million visits each year.
In the fall of 2014, City Council approved funding for the revitalization and renewal of the Stanley A. Milner Library. The total budget as of December 2017 was $84.5 million with the expectation that $10 million would come through community support and fundraising. We surpassed our original goal and raised over 18 million dollars with support from the community and the Friends of EPL.
The Stanley A. Milner Library closed for renovations on December 31, 2016 and renewal work began in January 2017. The revitalized Milner Library will help build a thriving, vibrant downtown, and serve as a key component in Edmonton's economic prosperity.
Milner Through the Years
See the transformation from the Main Library to the Centennial Library to the Stanely A. Milner Library we know and love today.
Dr. Stanley A. Milner spearheaded the construction of the main library as Edmonton’s project to celebrate Canada’s Centennial in 1967, while serving as the chair of the library board from 1963-68. To honour his many contributions to EPL, the downtown branch was renamed after him in a ceremony on August 22, 1996.
About Shelley Milner
Dr. Stanley A. Milner fully funded the initial children’s library at the downtown branch, and it was also his generous donation that allowed the space to be drastically renovated and expanded in 2010. The library was named in honour of his late daughter, Shelley Milner, who loved to read and was rarely without a book in her hand. The dedication ceremony took place on May 4, 2010.
Audio Tour
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Hello Milner - FAQs
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Starting Sunday, Aug. 22, the Milner Library's regular hours of operation are:
- Monday until Thursday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Sunday: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
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Meeting room booking will not be available until further notice.
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To align with the City of Edmonton's mask requirements, face masks/coverings are mandatory in all of our locations as of Friday, Sept. 3.
We understand that not everyone is able to wear a mask/face covering, let's be kind to those unable to wear them. Mask exemptions include:
- Children under 2
- Those who are unable to place, use or remove a face covering without assistance
- Those with mental or physical concerns or limitations, or any other protected ground under the Alberta Human Rights Act that prevent them from wearing a face covering
- Eating or drinking while seated in designated spaces
- Providing assistance or care to someone with a disability who would be hindered if the caregiver is wearing a face covering
Learn more about the City of Edmonton's mask exemptions.
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We surpassed our original goal of $10 million and raised over 18 million dollars with the support from the community and the Friends of EPL.
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The revitalized Milner Library is more customer-friendly, inviting and accessible:
Shelley Milner Children’s Library is almost triple the original size, growing from its previous 4,000 square feet to over 11,000 square feet. It’ll feature some amazing hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities such as coding and robotics, and an indoor play area where children can explore and experiment on their own.
Gamerspace is a 1,300 square foot area houses gaming PCs, virtual reality and mixed reality gaming platforms. We plan to offer community nights for local game developers to exhibit and present games they have published or are previewing.
Makerspace is a 10,000 square feet space which allows for more access to leading-edge and emerging technologies (such as 3D printing, sewing machines, sound and video production, robotics), as well as new opportunities for fabrication (such as a laser cutter, heat press and a desktop CNC Mill for metal and woodworking).
PÎYÊSÎW WÂSKÂHIKAN / Thunderbird House is our first dedicated Indigenous space that is built for ceremony and gatherings. EPL worked closely with Elder Jo-Ann Saddleback on the design of the space. Some notable features include white poplar paneling, ability to smudge, Joi Arcand artwork and nehiyaw interior design.
The Wall - a multi-storey simulation wall, facilitating hands-on, interactive learning as well as large-scale multimedia presentations. It is the largest digital exhibit in North America, and one of the biggest in the entire world. It is so powerful it takes twelve computers to run it!
And so much more!
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