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banq montreal

Accessibility in Montreal might be a work in progress, but the city seems to be coming around to the fact that it’s rude to stair. At least, not without a ramp or elevator nearby.

From relaxing in a fairytale greenhouse to paddleboarding on the Saint Lawrence River, some of the city's coolest spots are now more reachable than ever. You can lose yourself in floor-to-ceiling digital artworks or sip afternoon tea at the Ritz like royalty.

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With the advent of spring, a novel initiative is budding in Quebec, combining the charm of a library with the allure of nature.

The Bibliothèque et Archives Nationales du Québec (BAnQ) and the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (Sépaq) are giving you the chance to "borrow" a national park.

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Board game bars no longer have a monopoly on game night, since Montreal's BANQ has added over 200 boxed games to its already sizeable catalog. Library card holders can now rent up to three board games at a time for free from the Grande Bibliothèque.

That means you don't have to pay a cover charge to battle it out with your date or group of friends, and you can try some pricey recent releases before deciding whether to buy them — no roll of the dice required.

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If you're looking for your next read to enjoy by the fireplace this holiday season, Les Amis de BAnQ is organizing a huge sale of low-priced books on December 8, 9 and 10 at Montreal's largest library. It's a great opportunity to purchase new books in English and French for yourself or as gifts to put underneath the Christmas tree.

The organization promises a wide range of titles, such as documentaries, travel guides, recipe books, novels, biographies and even CDs. In total, 25,000 items will be put up for sale with prices ranging from $1 to $20.

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Montreal's largest library has a pavilion dedicated entirely to music lovers. Musicians who visit the top floor of the BANQ can play instruments provided by the space, while audiophiles can peruse the library's 10,000+ vinyl record collection and listen to their picks at a private station.

The BANQ is a notoriously delightful study space, and its music pavilion is no exception. You can set up at a desk surrounded by musical inspiration, including old music player installations and colourful displays of special records, including a release by Montreal-based Polaris winner Pierre Kwenders.

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Any bookworm looking for some additions to their bookshelf can rejoice, because a massive Montreal book sale is taking place this week, in the heart of the Rosemont–La-Petite-Patrie.

Le Marché aux livres des Amis de BAnQ is organizing this four-day event, during which novels, CDs and all kinds of books will be sold at low prices.

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