History of the Halton Hills Public Library
Acton Public Library
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Biography of Ettie Laird by Scott Brooks/Vintage Acton
Acton’s Board of Education transferred the public school library to the new town hall in 1883, marking the beginning of the village’s library. It was open for only a few days each week at 7pm but had a healthy collection of 1,400 books. The first meeting of the Acton Free Library Board took place on April 1, 1898. It opened in July of that year with over 70 members signed up in the first week, as reported by the Acton Free Press. The library was free to all residents and rate-payers of Acton and vicinity with only small charges for catalogues and membership cards. To become a member of the library, applicants had to either be known to the librarian or have a responsible citizen vouch for them.
Acton’s first public librarian was Ettie Laird. She was 18 years old and paid $40 a year to keep the library in order. This included keeping records of memberships, notifying people of overdue books and reporting to the library board. The Acton Free Press reported that library patrons appreciated her obliging and prompt nature.
By 1918, the library had outgrown its space and so the library board approached the Carnegie Estate for help in funding a new building. Unfortunately, they had the same luck as Georgetown and their application was turned down.
In 1933, the Murray family left money to expand the library. It was able to move to the front of the YMCA building on Mill Street. When it opened in April 1935, the Acton Free Press reported it to be the busiest evening in the library’s history with 250 exchanges of books.
The 1950s saw a surge in library use, mirroring the growth in the town’s population. The library had about 900 members in the beginning of the decade and had 1,623 members when 1960 rolled around.
In 1967, the Acton library moved from the YMCA into its Centennial building. Opening day saw a new record of around 550 books checked out in one day.
The Acton directory listed 6 employees for the Acton Library in 1980.
Acton’s first public librarian was Ettie Laird. She was 18 years old and paid $40 a year to keep the library in order. This included keeping records of memberships, notifying people of overdue books and reporting to the library board. The Acton Free Press reported that library patrons appreciated her obliging and prompt nature.
By 1918, the library had outgrown its space and so the library board approached the Carnegie Estate for help in funding a new building. Unfortunately, they had the same luck as Georgetown and their application was turned down.
In 1933, the Murray family left money to expand the library. It was able to move to the front of the YMCA building on Mill Street. When it opened in April 1935, the Acton Free Press reported it to be the busiest evening in the library’s history with 250 exchanges of books.
The 1950s saw a surge in library use, mirroring the growth in the town’s population. The library had about 900 members in the beginning of the decade and had 1,623 members when 1960 rolled around.
In 1967, the Acton library moved from the YMCA into its Centennial building. Opening day saw a new record of around 550 books checked out in one day.
The Acton directory listed 6 employees for the Acton Library in 1980.
