It’s been a while since I’ve written a post about libraries. I’ve been decluttering my house pretty steadily over the past month and a half and one thing I came across in a drawer was a pamphlet entitled “A Brief History of the Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library,” published January 2014. Here’s what I learned.
Mechanics’ Institute
In 1855 the Owen Sound Mechanics’ Institute was founded by 102 leading citizens and working men of Sydenham (the town officially became Owen Sound two years later). Each original subscriber contributed one pound five shillings to purchase books. As you can read here, mechanics’ institutes had annual fees. Women were not allowed to join until the 1870s. The library and reading room were located in a few different downtown buildings during the years before the Carnegie library was built.
Carnegie Library
In 1904 Owen Sound was granted Carnegie Foundation funds to build a free public library, though a bylaw to create the library was not enacted until 1911 and construction began in 1912. Designed by Forster & Clark Architects of Owen Sound, the Carnegie library on 1st Street West opened on February 3, 1914. (You can read about Calgary’s Carnegie library here.)
Library Expansion
The next major development was a 15,000 square foot addition to the original building begun in 1971. It was designed by Brook, Carruthers, Grierson and Shaw Architects of Toronto to complement the historic Carnegie library. The construction was done first by Mial Developments of Brampton and then James Kemp Ltd. of Hamilton. The formal opening of the renovated library took place on October 22, 1973. Over the next month membership doubled!
Union Public Library
Effective January 1, 1994 the Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library Board was established to serve a wider area (population: 41,000). Later municipal amalgamations renamed the geographic regions. The library continues to serve four municipalities: the Township of Chatsworth, the Township of Georgian Bluffs, the former Sydenham portion of the Municipality of Meaford, and the City of Owen Sound.