Date Range

1890-2012

Description Level

Fonds

Physical Description

63.5 cm of textual records; 79 photographic prints, 42 negative frames, 2 building plans

History Biographical

The Lethbridge Public Library began with the community’s support of a library establishment in 1910. In 1911, a by-law was passed for a provision of a library that would be known as the Lethbridge Public Library. In 1919, the first library board was appointed with W.J. Nelson (Chair), H.W. Meech, and Rev. C.E. Cragg. The first librarians were also introduced that year, which included A.N. Filmer, L. McIndoe, and Arthur Frayne. The first board meeting of the Library was held on March 17, 1919. The Library’s first location opened on August 14, 1919, in a small room of the old Y.M.C.A. building. This location kept about 3,000 books that were brought to the library during a “book drive”. This collection was the main stock of books kept by the library for most of the Library’s initial years. In 1920, Hazel Bletcher was appointed Chief Librarian, and she served in this position for thirty years, until her retirement in 1953. In January 1922, the Library moved into its own building, and the Lethbridge Public Library officially opened, called the Carnegie Library building (later the Southern Alberta Art Gallery). The Library received funding for this building through the Carnegie Foundation. The Library operated out of this location for thirty years. A film library section was created in 1946 and in 1947, music recording became available. The Library expanded in 1951, with its official opening on November 4, by Senator W. A. Buchanan. The expansion was dedicated to Library Chair, W. J. Nelson. John Dutton was appointed Chief Librarian in 1953, at a time which saw an increase in budgets and services at the Library; including the expansion and opening of the North Branch on 13th Street North, in 1956. The South Branch on opened in 1961. In 1965, George Dew became Chief Librarian. In 1973 the North Branch closed and in 1974, the South Branch closed. In 1974, the branch downtown opened, and this building combined all the services from the north and south branch. In 1985, the bookmobile was introduced into the community. In 2010, the Crossings Branch was opened on the west side of Lethbridge. The Lethbridge Public Library has been a place for members of the community to meet and share a love of books, as well as a place to promote literacy at every age.

Scope and Content

2021.1043/001: Library Policies. Part 1/2. 1985-1989. 2021.1043/002: Library Policies. Part 2/2. 1925-2001. 2021.1043/003: Retrospective Conversion Project Review. 1988. 2021.1043/004: Request for Proposal 1987. 1987. 2021.1043/005: DYNIX Contract. 1988. 2021.1043/006: Automation Committee Final Report January, 1988. 1988. 2021.1043/007: Pamphlets. Part 1/2. 1958-1992. 2021.1043/008: Pamphlets. Part 2/2. 1960-1983. 2021.1043/009: Buchanan Plaque and Lois Hole Memorial Garden. 1 photo print. 1979-2006. 2021.1043/010: History of the Library. 1890-2006? 2021.1043/011: Correspondences, Senator Buchanan Materials, Financial Papers, etc. 1919-1961. 2021.1043/012: Awards and Recognition. 2006-2009. 2021.1043/013: Overdue, Renewal, etc. Requests. 1924-1961. 2021.1043/014: Senator Buchanan Collection. 1999-2004. 2021.1043/015: P-4 Piano Fund. 1974-1975. 2021.1043/016: Sanitary Inspector Correspondences. 1924-1928. 2021.1043/017: Coordination with other Libraries – Correspondences and Projects. 1924-1983. 2021.1043/018: Reference Work Correspondences. 1924-1961. 2021.1043/019: Collections – Correspondences. 1919-1976. 2021.1043/020: Grants. 1920-1987. 2021.1043/021: City Relations. 1920-1996. 2021.1043/022: P-5 Public Comments. 1957-2009. 2021.1043/023: Appreciation Letters. 2011. 2021.1043/024: What’s Cooking at the Lethbridge Public Library Anniversary Edition. 1989. 2021.1043/025: Awards and Memorabilia. 1960-1994? 2021.1043/026: A Letter to the Chief Librarian. 1986. 2021.1043/027: Library’s 60th Anniversary. 26 photographs; 42 negative frames. 1979. 2021.1043/028: Personnel – Applications for Chief Librarian. 1 photographic print. 1926-1974. 2021.1043/029: 80s Memos – Memos to Staff. 1981-1990. 2021.1043/030: Photographs and the Bookmobile. 25 photographic prints. 1920?-2000. 2021.1043/031: Official Opening Photos Apr. 5 1974. 6 photographic prints. 1974. 2021.1043/032: More Library Photos. 7 photographic prints. 1991? 2021.1043/033: People at the Library Photos. 5 photographic prints. 1997? 2021.1043/034: View of the Library. 1 photographic print. 199-? 2021.1043/035: Opening of the Library’s Main Branch. 5 photographic prints. 1974-1987. 2021.1043/036: Library Interior Construction. 2 photographic prints. 1992. 2021.1043/037: Books for Babies. 1999. 2021.1043/038: Building Plans of the Library. 2 building plans. 1956-1958. 2021.1043/039: Recordak – Automation in Libraries. ca. 1949. 2021.1043/040: Overdue and Renewals Correspondences. 1957-1960. 2021.1043/041: Grants – Correspondences. 1924-1925. 2021.1043/042: Sanitary Inspector Letter. 1925. 2021.1043/043: Other Facility Planning Documents 1960s – 1970s. 1921-2012. 2021.1043/044: The Original North Branch. 1956-1961. 2021.1043/045: The Original South Branch. 1961-1962. 2021.1043/046: Original Bookmobile 1960. 1959-1960. 2021.1043/047: Library’s New Building Proposal Materials. 1971-1973. 2021.1043/048: Building and Expansion Proposals. Part 1/2. 2005. 2021.1043/049: Building and Expansion Proposals. Part 2/2. 2006-2009. 2021.1043/050: Crossings Branch – Resource Planning Group Documents. Part 1/2. 2005-2006. 2021.1043/051: Crossings Branch – Resource Planning Group Documents. Part 2/2. 2006. 2021.1043/052: Crossings Branch Documents. Part 1/2. 2002-2010. 2021.1043/053: Crossings Branch Documents. Part 2/2. 2009. 2021.1043/054: Main Branch Extension Opening 1992. 1973-1992. 2021.1043/055: The Second Bookmobile. 1982-1998. 2021.1043/056: Main Branch Planning and Opening. 1971-1974. 2021.1043/057: Second North Branch. 1960-1969. 2021.1043/058: Specifications for Additions, etc. Lethbridge Public Library. 196-? 2021.1043/059: 1992 Lethbridge Public Library Building Extension Specifications. Part 1/2. 1992? 2021.1043/060: 1992 Lethbridge Public Library Building Extension Specifications. Part 2/2. 1990.

Accession No.

20211043

Collection

Archive

Less detail