Atwater Library and Computer Centre
Atwater Library and Computer Centre is a registered Canadian charity operating a 1920 heritage library and computer centre in Westmount, Quebec, serving the Montreal public with traditional lending, digital literacy training, financial literacy, job-skills programs, cultural events, and room rentals, funded primarily by government grants and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1828
- HeadquartersWestmount, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Atwater Library and Computer Centre does
Atwater Library and Computer Centre is a registered Canadian charity (BN 107686388RR0001) operating a community library, public computer centre, and digital literacy hub from a heritage building at 1200 Atwater Avenue in Westmount, Quebec. Founded in 1828 as the Mechanics' Institute of Montreal and housed in its current building since 1920, it serves the general public of the Montreal region regardless of residence, with particular focus on English-speaking seniors, youth, job seekers, and women through targeted programming. Its core product set spans traditional library services (physical lending, special collections, eBooks and audiobooks via OverDrive), a Computer Centre offering small-group courses (max 8, average 4), the multi-decade Digital Literacy Project (50+ partner organizations and 3,100+ individuals served since 2007), a federally funded Financial Literacy Program, job-skills training, cultural events and exhibitions, room rentals (Adair Auditorium, Reading Room, Computer Centre, Computer Classroom), and equality-advancement projects.
The underlying technology stack is intentionally lightweight and consumer-grade: OverDrive for digital lending, Zoom for online programming, YouTube for content distribution, Google Slides for the 2026-2027 senior digital collage project, and Microsoft Forms for registrations. There is no proprietary technology, no API, and no mobile application; the technical footprint reflects a community non-profit prioritizing accessibility over platform differentiation. The technology strategy is to wrap consumer tools in program design rather than build custom systems.
The business model is a charity funding stack rather than a commercial revenue model. Most services are free to the public; operating and capital needs are met through a combination of federal and provincial government grants (Parks Canada $425K in 2009, Government of Canada $608K in 2019, ongoing Department of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women Canada support), private donations, membership fees, room rental income, and a volunteer-run bargain bookshop. Capital campaigns, including the 'Building Communities' campaign co-chaired by Richard W. Pound and W. David Angus, supplement infrastructure investment. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, has 11-50 employees, and reports no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no M&A activity.
Atwater Library and Computer Centre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Atwater Library and Computer Centre
- Legal name
- Atwater Library and Computer Centre
- Website
- https://atwaterlibrary.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1828
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Atwater Library and Computer Centre is a registered Canadian charity operating a 1920 heritage library and computer centre in Westmount, Quebec, serving the Montreal public with traditional lending, digital literacy training, financial literacy, job-skills programs, cultural events, and room rentals, funded primarily by government grants and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Atwater Library and Computer Centre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Library Services
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (519210), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF), Library, Reading Motivation & Independent Reading Programs (EDAMAJAO)
Keywords
Where Atwater Library and Computer Centre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Westmount
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Atwater Library and Computer Centre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Atwater Library and Computer Centre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Atwater Library and Computer Centre operates a heritage public library offering free access to physical and digital lending collections (eBooks via OverDrive), a public Computer Centre with small-group digital skills instruction, a Digital Literacy Project delivered through 50+ partner organizations, a Financial Literacy Program, cultural and educational programming, and fee-based room rentals. The organization is a registered charity serving the English-speaking Montreal community from its 1920 heritage building in Westmount, Quebec.
Product overview
Atwater Library and Computer Centre is a public library and community center offering a unified portfolio of services centered on access to knowledge, digital literacy, and community support. The core offering includes traditional library services (physical and digital collections via OverDrive), a Computer Centre with small-group instruction, the Digital Literacy Project with community outreach and senior-focused programs, Financial Literacy Online sessions, and Job Skills Training. Additional services include cultural programming (events, exhibitions, poetry projects, book clubs), room rentals, and equality-advancement initiatives. The organization positions itself as a community hub serving the Montreal region regardless of residence, operating a heritage building since 1920.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Library Services Traditional library services for the public, including borrowing physical materials, access to special collections, book sales of donated books/DVDs/CDs, home delivery service for those unable to visit in person, and a seed library that supports community gardening programs.
- Computer Centre Public computer centre offering access to modern equipment, computer and device courses, workshops, and private instruction on digital technology. Class sizes are small (maximum 8, average 4 students) and the centre is staffed by patient, well-qualified instructors.
- Digital Literacy Project Community digital literacy initiative that fosters positive digital citizenship and engages participants in creative new media production. Since 2007 the project has worked with over 50 partner organizations and schools, reaching more than 3,100 individuals, and includes the Connect Project, Community Outreach, Preventing Cyberviolence, and Seniors Living History components.
- eBooks and Digital Audiobooks Digital lending service delivering 24/7 access to eBooks and eAudiobooks via the OverDrive platform, integrated at the dedicated portal atwaterlibrary.overdrive.com.
- Financial Literacy Program Live online information sessions with Q&A covering TFSAs, RRSPs, income tax, late-life legal issues, wills and mandates, and healthy eating on a budget. Sessions are conducted two to three times monthly and funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage.
- Job Skills Training Programs and services helping community members develop job search skills and workforce readiness, including computer skills training and financial literacy components.
- Events and Programs Cultural and educational programming including the Lunchtime Series, Atwater Poetry Project, Book Club, Arts and Crafts workshops, Alzheimer Café, Reading to Decolonize, and various exhibitions and fundraising events.
- Room Rentals Rental facilities including the Adair Auditorium, Reading Room, Computer Centre, and Computer Classroom available for community use, meetings, talks, and events.
- Advancing Equality Programs addressing equality, including a three-year project addressing rape culture on college campuses (funded by Status of Women Canada, coordinated by Dr. Shanly Dixon and Eric Craven, announced August 9, 2017) and initiatives strengthening girls' and young women's economic prosperity.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reached 3,100+ individuals through Digital Literacy Project since 2007
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Atwater Library and Computer Centre
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Atwater Library and Computer Centre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Atwater Library and Computer Centre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.
- Ageing + Communication + Technologies (ACT)corePartner in the Moving Pictures Nuit blanche project, working with seniors on digital storytelling and home movie digitization.
- Concordia University (engAGE and Centre for Oral History and Digital Storytelling)corePartners in the Living History Collection project engaging seniors in documenting and sharing life experiences using digital technology. Project started summer 2020 for one year.
- Montreal West Public LibrarysupportingPartner in the Living History Collection project for senior digital storytelling initiatives.
- Suoni Per Il PopolosupportingPartner in the Living History Collection project engaging seniors in creative digital documentation.
- The Depot Community Food CentresupportingCassandra Belliveau, Food Skills Coordinator with The Depot Community Food Centre, conducts interactive information sessions on healthy eating on a budget for the Financial Literacy Program.
- CPAWS · SNAP CanadaminorCPAWS · SNAP Canada initiative to exhibit photographs of the Dumoine River on the Atwater Library's mezzanine from Fall 2025 to early Spring 2026 to spread awareness of the river's importance and preservation efforts.
- St. Andrew's Society of MontrealsupportingPartner in the Lunchtime Series, co-hosting events such as the talk on John Redpath with Richard Feltoe.
- Paragraphe BookstoresupportingCo-hosted author event with Nahlah Ayed discussing her WWII book 'The War We Won Apart' along with journalist Julian Sher.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Atwater Library and Computer Centre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Westmount Public Library: Municipal public library operating in the same Westmount borough as Atwater. Comparable in serving an English-speaking affluent Montreal clientele with collections, eBook lending, and community programming; represents the closest geographic substitute.
- Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ): Quebec's national library and archives institution. Provides broad public services including digital collections, programs, and special collections to Quebec residents, making it the principal public-sector library peer operating in the same province.
- Bibliothèques de Montréal: Montreal's municipal public library system covering 45+ branches across the island. Directly comparable as a public library serving the same Montreal population with overlapping borrowing, digital literacy, and community programming mandates.
- Library and Archives Canada: Canada's federal library and archival institution. Comparable as a federally chartered library operating in Canada with national mandates for digital access, special collections, and community programming.
Broad incumbents
- Calgary Public Library: Another large Canadian public library with strong digital, educational, and community programming. Overlaps with Atwater's mix of literacy, job skills, and digital services, but operates in a different municipality.
- Toronto Public Library: Canada's largest public library system with extensive digital literacy, newcomer, and community programming. Comparable as a Canadian public library combining traditional collections with modern digital and educational offerings at scale.
- Vancouver Public Library: Major Canadian public library with broad digital and community programming including digital literacy, eBook lending, and cultural events. Comparable as a Canadian public library delivering the same category of services Atwater offers, but at much larger scale.
Emerging players
- ABC Life Literacy Canada: Canadian charitable nonprofit focused on literacy (financial, digital, adult and family literacy). Closely comparable to Atwater's Financial Literacy Program and Digital Literacy Project mission and funding model.
- NWT Literacy Council: Canadian nonprofit that delivers digital and adult literacy programs in underserved communities. Comparable mission and delivery model to Atwater's community-based digital literacy outreach, although it serves a different region.
Others
- The Depot Community Food Centre: Montreal-based community NPO partner of Atwater that delivers programming on healthy eating and food skills. Comparable as a Montreal-area community-services NPO delivering free, donor- and grant-funded programming with similar operating model and funding structure.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Atwater Library and Computer Centre social profiles
Digital presenceAtwater Library and Computer Centre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Atwater Library and Computer Centre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Atwater Library and Computer Centre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Atwater Library and Computer Centre M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Atwater Library and Computer Centre
What does Atwater Library and Computer Centre do?
Atwater Library and Computer Centre operates a heritage public library offering free access to physical and digital lending collections (eBooks via OverDrive), a public Computer Centre with small-group digital skills instruction, a Digital Literacy Project delivered through 50+ partner organizations, a Financial Literacy Program, cultural and educational programming, and fee-based room rentals. The organization is a registered charity serving the English-speaking Montreal community from its 1920 heritage building in Westmount, Quebec.
Is Atwater Library and Computer Centre a public or private company?
Atwater Library and Computer Centre is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Atwater Library and Computer Centre founded?
Atwater Library and Computer Centre was founded in 1828. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Atwater Library and Computer Centre based?
Atwater Library and Computer Centre is headquartered in Westmount, Canada, in the North America region.
Who are Atwater Library and Computer Centre's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Westmount Public Library, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ), Bibliothèques de Montréal and Library and Archives Canada. Broad incumbents are Calgary Public Library, Toronto Public Library and Vancouver Public Library. Emerging players are ABC Life Literacy Canada and NWT Literacy Council. The Depot Community Food Centre is listed as an others.
Does Atwater Library and Computer Centre have an API?
No public API is recorded for Atwater Library and Computer Centre.
What industry is Atwater Library and Computer Centre in?
Atwater Library and Computer Centre's product category is Public Library Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAGAC, Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management, with a secondary code of EDAEAGAF, Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing). Its NAICS code is 519210 and its SIC code is 8200.