The Niagara-On-the-Lake Public Library
1900 to 1998
Pages
Origin of the Niagara LibraryRules and first subscribers1800 to 18481848 to 1900Niagara Mechanics' Institute1900 to 1998Expansion work at the Court House in 1973Once Upon 200 Years - Bicentennial Celebration1998 to presentIn 1912, when the new fire hall was completed, the firemen moved out and their vacated area was added to the Library by cutting an archway in the wall. Miss Carnochan worked tirelessly until her death in 1926 to establish the Library as the social, political and information centre for the community. The records seem to indicate that she was very successful in her endeavours as the library was flourishing.
Unfortunately, in the years leading up to and during World War II, the Library's membership began to decline, even though the collection continued to grow – so much so that a card index system was organized in 1933 in cooperation with the Department of Education, to better manage the collection. To try and rectify the decreasing membership and the lack of money, the local taxpayers voted in 1938 to remove the Library from the Public Library Association (a private organization) to become a free public library under the municipal government. This scenario also meant that the Niagara Library was eligible for government grants and that Board members were appointed by the Town Council and the Board of Education. The Librarian at that time was W.C. Caskey.
When Mary Duddy became Librarian in 1942, the collection had reached 10,070 books. Helen Greves succeeded her in 1967. Ms Greves was succeeded by Gerda Molson who became Chief Librarian in 1969 and served in that position for thirty-five years, until December 2004.
By 1972, the Library Board was faced with the need for additional space in the Court House location where the library was housed in the basement. The Board Chairman, Ben Bramble, sought the advice of an experienced interior decorator – Paul Johns. Mr. Johns devised a workable solution. A below-grade truck garage was revamped and joined to the existing room by a stairway. This area became the main entrance to the Library, housing the card catalogue and the checkout area. The children's section was created by connecting it to the entrance area by a short staircase. This area at one time had been an indoor rifle range!
Click on the link at left to see more images of expansion work at the Court House
The expanded library was officially opened on June 8, 1973. Over the next several years, there were additions to the facilities. The Janet Carnochan Room was added to house the local history collection and rare books, which in time became the Niagara Historical Resource Centre.. A children's storytelling and craft/Board meeting room was equipped in 1983 during the restoration of the Court House. A former furnace room off the children's section became a book storage and computer/telecommunications room; the vacated Chamber of Commerce office and Police Office at the front of the building were later added.
Unfortunately, in the years leading up to and during World War II, the Library's membership began to decline, even though the collection continued to grow – so much so that a card index system was organized in 1933 in cooperation with the Department of Education, to better manage the collection. To try and rectify the decreasing membership and the lack of money, the local taxpayers voted in 1938 to remove the Library from the Public Library Association (a private organization) to become a free public library under the municipal government. This scenario also meant that the Niagara Library was eligible for government grants and that Board members were appointed by the Town Council and the Board of Education. The Librarian at that time was W.C. Caskey.
When Mary Duddy became Librarian in 1942, the collection had reached 10,070 books. Helen Greves succeeded her in 1967. Ms Greves was succeeded by Gerda Molson who became Chief Librarian in 1969 and served in that position for thirty-five years, until December 2004.
By 1972, the Library Board was faced with the need for additional space in the Court House location where the library was housed in the basement. The Board Chairman, Ben Bramble, sought the advice of an experienced interior decorator – Paul Johns. Mr. Johns devised a workable solution. A below-grade truck garage was revamped and joined to the existing room by a stairway. This area became the main entrance to the Library, housing the card catalogue and the checkout area. The children's section was created by connecting it to the entrance area by a short staircase. This area at one time had been an indoor rifle range!
Click on the link at left to see more images of expansion work at the Court House
The expanded library was officially opened on June 8, 1973. Over the next several years, there were additions to the facilities. The Janet Carnochan Room was added to house the local history collection and rare books, which in time became the Niagara Historical Resource Centre.. A children's storytelling and craft/Board meeting room was equipped in 1983 during the restoration of the Court House. A former furnace room off the children's section became a book storage and computer/telecommunications room; the vacated Chamber of Commerce office and Police Office at the front of the building were later added.
