History of our Libraries

Historical information about our libraries was compiled from local history books, collected newspaper articles, and in some cases, the recollections of local citizens.

Bethany

Brief library history
Year	History
1974	Manvers Township is transferred from Durham County to Victoria County as a result of the restructuring of several counties.
1978	Manvers citizens vote not to join the Victoria County library system.
1996	St. Paul's Anglican Church opens children's library downstairs at the church. Organizers collect 500 books, raise money to build shelves, and sign up volunteers to help out for story hours and crafts on Saturdays.
2001	Victoria County Public Library merges with the Lindsay Public Library to re-form as Kawartha Lakes Public Library.
2003	Bethany branch of Kawartha Lakes Public Library opens March 12. The City of Kawartha Lake's 18th branch unofficially opens for business on February 3 in the former Manvers municipal office, sharing the space with the service centre. While the City's Service Centre closed in October 2017, the branch remains in the facility.

Bobcaygeon

Brief library history
Year	History
1842	Anne Langton writes in her journal about a library in Bobcaygeon operated by Mr. John Henry Taylor. "I shall talk to Taylor about the library. I find that the quarterly sixpence is a hindrance to the circulation of books. Some subscribe and never do, whilst other who are really thriving say they have never found themselves rich enough. This must be more from the scarcity of cash than from the actual value of the sum. John says there seems to be no difficulty in producing sixpence for glass of grog."
1887	Mechanics' Institute is formed. From the minutes of the first meeting, dated December 5th, "A number of ladies and gentlemen interested in organizing a Mechanics' Institute met in Taylor's Hall to take the necessary steps in appointing officers who might conduct the affairs of the Institute." The first purchase for the library is a set of Charles Dickens's works.This first library, located in Taylor's Hall (above Ross Forbert's Gift Shoppe), was reached by climbing a set of extremely steep stairs. A reading room was available to members, where in addition to books; they could read the Globe, the Illustrated London News, the Canadian Post, the builder's edition of the Scientific American, and the Saturday Night.
1893	In February, the Mechanics' Institute library is closed for three months due to an outbreak of diphtheria.
1907	On August 16, the Mechanics' Institute library board arranges a trip to the Kirkfield Lift-lock aboard the steamer Manita as a library fundraiser. Since practically all the town residents planned to go on this trip, a civic holiday is declared in the village.
1930	Numerous meetings are held to discuss building a library at the end of the bridge, however, when war breaks out in 1939, these plans are abandoned.
1940	At the invitation of the masons, the Mechanics' Institute Library moves to quarters in the old Orr Building at the north-east corner of King and Bolton streets.
1953	Miss Sheila Boyd had long envisioned the old Boyd Lumber Company office (once the original home of the Boyd family) as an appropriate home for the Mechanics' Institute Library, however, the library could not afford the heat and upkeep on a building of this size, so an agreement is drawn up to share the building with the Village and the Township. The east wing of the Boyd building becomes the new home of the library, while the Village Municipal office and Hydro are to take the main business office, and the Verulam Council takes the west wing.
1960	The Council of the Village of Bobcaygeon passes a by-law to establish the Mechanics' Institute as a public library, making the Bobcaygeon Public Library an asset belonging to the whole community.
1967	Mr. John Grant is engaged to build an extension to the Bobcaygeon Public Library. Great care is taken to ensure the new section harmonized with the old building.
1967	After the passing of beloved librarian Amy Cosh, the new wing is named in her memory.
2001	Victoria County Public Library merges with the Lindsay Public Library to reform as Kawartha Lakes Public Library.
2001	The City of Kawartha Lakes considers moving the Bobcaygeon Public Library out of the Boyd building and into the municipal building that was constructed in the mid-1990s to house the municipal offices, council chamber and Bobcaygeon Hydro. Cost of the move is estimated at $112,000, necessary to reinforce the floor so it can bear the weight of the stacks of books and add a wheelchair ramp to the building's front door. City Council reverses their decision to move the library after strong opposition from the public.
2009	The Bobcaygeon branch of Kawartha Lakes Public Library applies for $600,000 from the Infrastructure Canada Stimulus Fund, which will cover two thirds of a much needed expansion. City Council is asked to be responsible for remaining third.

Coboconk

Brief library history
Year	History
1956	By arrangement with the Victoria County Public Library, Harriet Millyard operates a library deposit station from a room in the drug store at 6651 Highway 35 (in the building that would be well-known as Souter's Variety) where she works alongside her husband Dr. Wiley Millyard.
1960	Coboconk Library deposit station closes due to lack of use.
1967	In June, the Coboconk deposit station resumes in the Millyard store. It becomes so successful that later in the year the Coboconk Public Library is opened in the Lions' Club Hall (9 Grandy Road.)
1971	Coboconk Public Library moves into lower floor of the community centre.
2001	Victoria County Public Library merges with the Lindsay Public Library to reform as Kawartha Lakes Public Library.
2003	Coboconk branch of Kawartha Lakes Public Library opens in combination with a municipal service centre on May 29 attached to the Lions' Club Hall.

Dalton

Brief library history
Year	History
1970	Ontario Premier Leslie Frost opens the Dalton Township Library in the township community centre in Sebright in June.
2001	Victoria County Public Library merges with the Lindsay Public Library to re-form as Kawartha Lakes Public Library.

Dunsford

Brief library history
Year	History
1968	On August 13th, the people of Dunsford gather in the United Church Hall for a discussion and planning of a library. A library board is formed and for a short time the Dunsford Public Library is housed in the United Church Hall.
1990	The community officially opens a building that is both a community centre and library, after receiving a grant from Wintario.
2000	City of Kawartha Lakes Library Task Force recommends the closure of the Dunsford branch.
2001	Victoria County Public Library merges with the Lindsay Public Library to re-form as Kawartha Lakes Public Library.
2008	Kawartha Lakes Public Library board once again looks at closing the Dunsford branch.
2012	Dunsford branch's lease in the community hall is renewed.

Fenelon Falls

Brief library history
Year	History
1878	Fenelon Falls forms a Mechanics' Institute.
1910	The Mechanics' Institute Library is located on Francis Street in the small building behind the Bank of Montreal.
1935	The Mechanics' Institute Library moves to Colborne Street into the building that was at one time the Sterling Bank. This location is later destroyed to make space for the IGA grocery store parking lot.
1970	The Fenelon Falls Library joins the Victoria County Library.
1976	Fundraising campaign begins to provide Fenelon Falls with a modern library building.
1980	The Fenelon Falls Library moves to Market Street, and is officially opened April 25, 1981.
1993	The Fenelon Falls Library moves into building expansion on Market Street.
2001	Victoria County Public Library merges with the Lindsay Public Library to re-form as Kawartha Lakes Public Library.
2003	The Fenelon branch of the Kawartha Lakes Public Library celebrates 125 years.

Kinmount

Brief library history
Year	History
1906	George Train operates a library along with his stationary and book shop on Lot 1, east of Main Street. Anyone could join the library for fifty cents.
1917	George Train's store is destroyed by fire along with the entire block of buildings from the Dunbar Hotel south to the river.
1967	Somerville township joins the Victoria County Co-op Library, and opens a library in the basement of the Kinmount Community Centre (at 4995 Monck Road) with the official opening of the Kinmount Library on May 12.
1990s	Township opens a municipal office.
2001	Victoria County Public Library merges with the Lindsay Public Library to reform as Kawartha Lakes Public Library.
2001	Municipal service centre closes in April, but reopens within the Kinmount branch of the Kawartha Lakes Public Library as a "city information centre."
2005	Kinmount branch moves into the upper level of the former Somerville municipal office at 3980 County Road 121.

Kirkfield

Brief library history
Year	History
1894	Kirkfield establishes a library.
1925	On January 25, fire breaks out of the barber shop located over the public library (location of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in 1972) and completely destroys the south-west business block, including the public library and 300 new books.
1957	Kirkfield Library is located over a garage until a new building is found.
1959	Kirkfield Library moves in with the fire hall and municipal offices in July. Kirkfield Library becomes Eldon Township Library.
1994	Opening of new library building at the north-east corner of Portage and Kirkfield Roads in September with celebration of 100th anniversary of the Kirkfield Library.
2001	Victoria County Public Library merges with the Lindsay Public Library to re-form as Kawartha Lakes Public Library.
2003	On May 7th the Kirkfield branch of the Kawartha Lakes Public moves to the Kirkfield Service Centre.

Lindsay

Brief library history
Year	History
1860	A reading room is established in May 1860 on the north side of Kent Street near York Street. This building would have been lost in the great fire of 1861.
1863	The Lindsay Reading Room is opened in the living quarters at the back of Thomas Beall's store in the "Keenan Block." The reading room is supported by an annual fee of $6 from each of the 130 leading citizens, and remains in operation until 1871.
1879	The first meeting of the Lindsay Mechanics' Institute is held November 24th to establish the Institute.
1880	The Institute moves to the second floor of the old Dominion Bank (current TD Bank.) The Institute provides adult education for young men on technical subjects, and includes evening lectures, lending libraries and reading rooms. Membership is $1 per year in 1894.
1882	The Free Libraries Act gives authority to turn Mechanics' Institutes into Free Public Libraries and also to tax property for the maintenance of free public libraries.
1889	Grand Trunk Railway opens a library on the second floor of the Grand Trunk Station at Durham Street West (at William Street South.) This library remained in operation until the 1920s.The library carried around 1600 volumes alongside periodicals available to railroaders and others for a membership fee of five cents per month. The Grand Trunk Library was one of four such libraries in Ontario and Quebec, the others being located at Belleville, Montreal, and Stratford.
1893	Bylaw No. 663 is to provide for the establishment of a Free Library in the Town of Lindsay.
1895	The provincial government legislates that Mechanics' Institutes transform themselves into public libraries, and as a result the Institute's name changes to Lindsay Public Library.
1899	Citizens of Lindsay vote to make the library free to citizens of the Town of Lindsay, acting under the authority of The Free Libraries Act, 1882.
1901	When word reaches Canada that Andrew Carnegie is granting money for the construction of libraries, an application is sent from the Town of Lindsay.
1902	Carnegie grants $13,500 to build a library for the 7000 citizens with the condition the town will continue to provide funds every year for building maintenance.
1904	The new Carnegie building of the Lindsay Public Library opens.
1954	A group of citizen begin the Lindsay and District Film Council, where members meet at the Lindsay Public Library to watch films and may also borrow a 16mm sound projector, film reels, and a projector screen, all of which were kept at the library.
1968	When the Lindsay and District Film Council dissolves, the library is given the equipment to establish an Audio-Visual Department. Over the next few years, the department expands, adds more films, cassettes, and slides, and loans projectors, cassette players, projection screens.
1974	After a couple decades of stretching beyond the library's maximum capacity for 20,000 books, Lindsay Town Council approves $150,000 in addition to $50,000 already earmarked for an addition to the library on the condition that the Library Board raise $180,000 by grants and public subscription. The addition is paid for by a grant of $325,000 from Ministry of Culture & Recreation, and $162,500 from private donations and public donations from the taxpayers.
1977	Official opening of the new addition on September 16, 1977. One room on the second floor of the new addition opens as the Ethel Flavelle Art Gallery.
1985	The Ethel Flavelle Art Gallery moves out of the library when it merges with Studio 8 Gallery located at 8 Victoria Avenue North.
1987	The Lindsay Public Library selects Munroe Scott to serve as writer-in-residence for one year.
1988	The original portion of the Lindsay Public Library, known as the Carnegie building, including both the exterior and parts of the interior, was approved for protection under the Ontario Heritage Act in March of 1988. Lindsay's Chief Librarian, Moti Tahiliani receives "Outstanding Librarian of the Year" from the Ontario Library Trustees Association.
1990	The Reference Department expands and relocates from the main floor to its current location on the second floor. The card catalogue goes digital and becomes available on computers.
1992	The Lindsay Public Library wins the Canadian Library Association's Meckler Award for Innovative Technology. The annual award is presented to one library in Canada each year. The Lindsay Library won for the state-of-the-art Digital Video Interactive project in the reference department. This project allows users to electronically archive fragile material (documents, photographs, video, audio recordings) onto a computer disk. The project was unveiled in 1991, the only of its kind in Canada.
1993	The Lindsay Public Library opens a Science Department designed to get young people excited about the science and technology. The new department contains science books from the children's department along with telescopes, microscopes, binoculars, science kits and computer programs, all of which could be borrowed. The department presents various workshops on different science topics. For a limited time the Library issues high-tech optical membership cards.
1994	The Lindsay Art Gallery moves into the Lindsay Public Library once again, when its former location on Victoria Avenue North is demolished to build a new police station.
2001	As a result of municipal amalgamation, the Lindsay Public Library merges with the Victoria County Library system to form the Kawartha Lakes Public Library.
2004	Celebration of 100th anniversary of the Carnegie building.
2005	Flood shuts down the branch for several days after heavy rain storm sends water through the roof, streaming down the walls, leaking out of light fixtures, and leaving soaked carpets and a collapsed ceiling tile.

Little Britain

Brief library history
Year	History
1894	Little Britain forms a Mechanics' Institute in December from funds remaining from a successful sports day. This library is kept by Samuel A. Champion, a tailor, at 9 S. King Street East.
1895	Mechanics' Institute becomes a Public Library.
1897	Little Britain Library moves to a room over E.Z. Yerex's store in the north-east corner of Mill and King Streets.
1912	Mariposa Township takes over the assets of the Library Association and Bylaw 695 establishes a Public Library.
1921	Little Britain Public Library moves to the new community hall. Telephone switch operators also run the library.
1952	Little Britain Public Library becomes a member of the Victoria County Public Library System.
1968	Little Britain Public Library expands into the front office, formerly occupied by the telephone company.
1996	In October, Mariposa Township Council passes a resolution to move the library to the recreation room at the community centre. The move is made in part because the county is considering closing two of Mariposa township's three libraries. The Oakwood Library is to remain open, but the Manilla Library is on the ropes.
2001	Victoria County Public Library merges with the Lindsay Public Library to re-form as Kawartha Lakes Public Library.
2001	Little Britain Public Library becomes Little Britain branch of Kawartha Lakes Public Library.

Norland

Brief library history
Year	History
1902	A meeting is held on October 30 to form the Corporation of the Norland Public Library in the home of J. A. Broadway.
1905	Norland Public Library moves to second floor of George W. Allely 's store. Library board passes a motion to sell all the volumes of poetry in favour of purchasing other reading material.
1945	Norland Public Library outgrows its space. Library board passes a motion to seek financial assistance in building a public library and reading room.
1951	Norland Library joins the Victoria County Library Co-operative. The Norland Library Board considers moving the library to the Community Memorial Hall, but finds the space is inadequate. Adding an addition to the Hall is discussed, but the Norland Community Club, which operates out of the Hall, decides building a library building will be its next project. Members of the Library Board drive all through the country in search of a suitable deserted building which could be purchased, dismantled and moved to Norland to provide material for a new library. Head Lake Union Church is selected, and over the next three years, volunteers dismantle and build a new building with contribution from the Norland Community Club, Department of Education and Norland Women's Institute.
1955	Norland Library moves to its own building, on Friday June 17 in a ceremony with Premier Leslie M. Frost, guest speaker, and Angus Mowatt, Director of Libraries.
1962	Plans for a new addition to the library building are prepared.
1964	Norland Library faces near disaster when the space heater pipe comes unhinged, letting a shower of soot and oil loose over the library. Fortunately no fire occurred, but the mess was dreadful.
1965	Norland Library opens the new addition June 17 with Leslie M. Frost once again attending.
1967	Norland Library is first to join the Victoria County Public Library.
1969	Norland Reeve serves notice at a meeting of County Council that he intends to present a motion that Victoria County withdraw from the Regional Library System. The County Board holds emergency meetings with all the local committees to plan a publicity campaign against the Reeve. The motion is defeated
1969	President of the Library Board resigns due to disliking the direction the Library is going under County supervision.
1970s	The entire Norland Library committee resigns.
1974	The library building enjoys a sprucing up of the exterior with the addition of a natural stone base, aluminum siding and a new door.
1994	Having outgrown its space, Norland Public Library moves to the new municipal office in the former Norland Public School at 3448 Monck Road 45.
2001	Victoria County Public Library merges with the Lindsay Public Library to re-form as Kawartha Lakes Public Library.
2002	Norland branch of the Kawartha Lakes Public Library holds 100th anniversary celebration on October 24. Local historian Vernon Lecraw attends. On display are six of the first books purchased by the library.

Oakwood

Brief library history
Year	History
1897	On April 23, a meeting is held to appoint a board to provide for a library and reading room. The board arranges for a library over R.J. Coad's corner store. Coad acts as librarian and supplied heat and light for $50 per year. The reading room is open 12 hours a day and six days a week. A membership fee of 25 cents is charged for people ages 12 to 18 and 50 cents for others.
1905	The Oakwood Library moves to 13 N. King Street East.
1906	The Oakwood Library moves to 45 S. King Street West.
1910	The Oakwood Library moves to the Temperance House.
1926	The Oakwood Library moves to Wilmot F. Webster's store at the northwest corner.
1930	The Oakwood Library moves to 5 N. Eldon Street East.
1933	Reading room discontinues as well as the daily papers.
1951	The Oakwood Library joins the Victoria County Library Cooperative. Four times a year 225 books are exchanged by the Cooperative.
1954	Library Board is asked to find a new location for the Oakwood Library. A suitable site can't be found, so the library board, village trustees and the Women's Institute decide to build a combined library and fire hall.
1956	Premier Leslie Frost opens the new cement block building on June 21.
1975	Fire department moves out building, and the Oakwood Public Library expands into the vacant space.
1998	A problem in the furnace room results in fire, gutting the interior of the library building, leaving only the outside walls.
1999	The Oakwood Public Library reopens on October 23 in the newly repaired and renovated location.
2001	Victoria County Public Library merges with the Lindsay Public Library to re-form as Kawartha Lakes Public Library.
2002	The Oakwood branch of the Kawartha Lakes Public Library moves to the former municipal services building on Highway 7, and officially opens on October 23

Omemee

Brief library history
Year	History
1876	Omemee starts up a Mechanics Institute in February. The lending library and reading room are set up on the second floor of the Laidley Shoe Store (by 1973 this building would become known as Ross Rehill's store at 25 King Street East.) Money is raised to support the library through concerts at the Bradburn Opera House.
1907	Fire sweeps through several buildings in December. Bucket brigades are directed to save the Mechanics' Institute building adjoining John McCrea's beautiful brick residence.
1911	The Mechanics' Institute Library moves to the second floor of newly-built Coronation Hall, over the Council Chamber. Not long after this, lack of funds forces the committee in charge to close the library.
1919	Interested citizens are successful in re-opening the Mechanics' Institute library.
1934	The Mechanics' Institute becomes an associated library.
1950	The Omemee Library joins the Victoria County Library Co-operative.
1962	Library board requests to Council to re-locate the Omemee Library to the ground floor of the Hall. Council agrees to trade rooms with the library, and agrees to make the library public. As a result of the move, circulation triples.
1985	Omemee Public Library moves into the newly-completed addition.
2001	Victoria County Public Library merges with the Lindsay Public Library to re-form as Kawartha Lakes Public Library.
2002	City Council looks at moving the Omemee branch of the Kawartha Lakes Public Library to a modular building at the Omemee Curling Club, in order to allow more accommodation for the service centre also operating out of Coronation Hall.
2004	Kawartha Lakes Public Library looks at expanding the Omemee branch into Coronation Hall, an idea that is met with opposition from members of the public.
2017	The Omemee branch opens on November 21 in the newly renovated rental location at 24 King St. E., the former ACE Hardware store.
2018	The Official Opening of the Omemee branch is held on January 13 featuring local entertainment and greetings from the Mayor and Council, and the Library Board and Staff.

Woodville

Brief library history

Year	History
1891	Woodville opens a Mechanics' Institute in the J.C Gunn building.
1893	In November the Mechanics' Institute library moves to the J.C. Gilchrist building at 21 N. King Street East into a room that previously housed the post office, sharing the building with the Bell Telephone Office.
1895	Provincial legislation changes the Mechanics' Institutes to Public Libraries in June.
1897	The Mechanics' Institute Library collection includes 1500 volumes for an annual membership fee of 50 cents.
1949	Woodville Library considers the offer of joining Victoria County Co-operative Library, but turns it down.
1954	The Woodville Library moves into its own building on the site of the old Gregor Campbell blacksmith shop at 4 N. King St. E. Opening and dedication ceremony was held on May 28
1966	The Woodville Library joins the County Library Co-operative.
2001	Victoria County Public Library merges with the Lindsay Public Library to re-form as Kawartha Lakes Public Library.
2002	The Woodville branch of the Kawartha Lakes Public Library moves into former municipal office at 78 King Street. The grand opening is held on May 6.

Kawartha Lakes Public Library

This history provides a brief overview of when certain libraries established, when the Victoria County Public Library system established and when the Kawartha Lakes Public Library system was established.

Brief library history

Year

	History
1876	Omemee forms a Mechanics' Institute.
1878	Fenelon Falls forms a Mechanics' Institute.
1879	The first meeting of the Lindsay Mechanics' Institute was held November 24th to establish the Institute.
1886	Manilla forms a Mechanics' Institute.
1887	Mechanics' Institute is formed in Bobcaygeon. From the minutes of the first meeting, dated December 5th, "A number of ladies and gentlemen interested in organizing a Mechanics' Institute met in Taylor's Hall to take the necessary steps in appointing officers who might conduct the affairs of the Institute." The first purchase for the library is a set of Charles Dickens's works.
1891	Woodville opens a Mechanics' Institute.
1894	Kirkfield establishes a library.
	Little Britain forms a Mechanics' Institute in December from funds remaining from a successful sports day.
1897	On April 23, a meeting is held in Oakwood to appoint a board to provide for a library and reading room.
1899	Cambray citizens come together to set up the first public library.
1902	A meeting is held on October 30 to form the Corporation of the Norland Public Library.
1951	Ten libraries get their first distribution of books from the newly formed Victoria County Co-operative Library in June. The first ten branches to join the Co-op Library are Norland, Little Britain, Oakwood, Manilla, Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Omemee, Cambray, Woodville, and Kirkfield.
1956	Burnt River operates a library deposit station.
1962	Victoria County Co-op Library opens a deposit station, sponsored by the Women's Institute, in home of local citizen.
1967	At the urging of the provincial government, the co-operative (Victoria County Co-operative Library) reforms as a county library system (Victoria County Public Library) as of January 1st, and operates with funds levied by county councils rather than by annual grants. All municipalities agree to join, except Ops Township and Manvers Township. Lindsay and Fenelon Falls library do not join.
	Libraries are opened in Kinmount, Carden Township, Coboconk, Downeyville.
1968	Powles Corners deposit station is closed. A library is formed in Dunsford.
1970	Library opens in Cameron and the Dalton branch opens in Sebright. The Fenelon Falls Library joins the Victoria County Public Library.
1971	Burnt River Branch opens.
1980	Cameron Library closes.
2001	Victoria County Public Library merges with the Lindsay Public Library to re-form as Kawartha Lakes Public Library.
2003	Bethany branch of Kawartha Lakes Public Library opens.
2014	Downeyville Branch is closed.
2016	Burnt River and Cambray Branches are closed.
2017	Carden Branch is closed.