Georgetown Public Library
The Halton Hills Public Library has been providing library services to the community for more than a century. The Georgetown Public Library was founded in 1895. Three years later, the Acton Public Library opened its doors. The two libraries operated in their own communities until 1974, when they merged and became the Halton Hills Public Library.
The Georgetown collection sprang from a related tradition--that of the Mechanic's Institutes. These were associations whose principal purpose was to encourage those who had finished school, particularly members of the working class, to continue their education. Evening classes and special lectures were a significant part of the program of the Mechanic's Institutes, along with a library and a reading room stocked with newspapers and magazines. Formed with considerable enthusiasm in the spring of 1880, the Georgetown Mechanic's Institute’s collection grew rapidly for about three years. Occasionally helped out by a grant of $25 or $40 (and free rent) from the village council, the Georgetown Mechanic's Institute frequently failed to qualify for any money from the province. Annual membership fees of a dollar were a day’s wages for the working men the Institute was supposed to benefit. By 1895 new provincial legislation encouraged its directors to turn the whole collection (nearly 1,300 volumes) over to the village on the condition that access to it be free for all residents of the village.
The Birth of a Free Public Library and Library Boards - In charge of the newly created free public libraries were the newly appointed public library boards. In both communities, board members included a representative of Council. In Acton this included the irrepressible H.P. Moore, editor and owner of the Acton Free Press, John Cameron, a local builder, and the Presbyterian, Anglican and Methodist ministers.
Both collections continued to be housed in the respective Town Halls. In Georgetown hope sprang eternal that the Carnegie estate, which had been so generous with other public libraries across North America, could be persuaded to donate towards a new building. They were turned down in 1903 and again in 1910. The solution presented itself in 1912, when the members of the local Congregational Church, anticipating the union of the Congregational Church with those of the Methodists and Presbyterians, decided to move next door to Knox Presbyterian. The founding president of the Georgetown Mechanics Institute, and leading local industrialist, John R. Barber, with the other trustees of the Congregational Church deeded the building to the Town to be used as a library. The conditions of sale included the provisos that no gambling of any kind be permitted on the premises, that the Memorial window remain, and that the Church bell be rung each Sabbath for Church Services. The Carnegie Foundation was promptly asked for $4,000 to cover the cost of renovating the building, which was as promptly refused. J.B. McKenzie of Acton was given the contract for renovations (rest rooms, a new metal ceiling) and the library opened in its new official home on October 10, 1913. Having just escaped a corner of the old Town Hall there was substantial extra space despite dividing part of the building for use as an auditorium. It was equipped with gymnastic equipment, which during World War I was used for training recruits. Just after the war, the YMCA used the facilities.
The 1981 Georgetown Branch Renovation - The biggest issue was the severely cramped library in Georgetown. Gone was the auditorium, and extra meeting rooms in the basement. All available space was crammed with books, and the beginnings of an audio-visual collection. A calculation based on the American Library Association standards for public library service said Georgetown needed a library of about 25,000 square feet. It was stuffed into a building with less than 6,000. Renovating and expanding on the Church St. location was looked at and discarded as inadequate; plans were drawn up for a new site two blocks down Main St. at Cedarvale Park, a setting very reminiscent of the Acton location. When this was blocked, the site at Church and Market was significantly enlarged and renovated. The Halton Hills Library and Cultural Centre opened in October 1981, adding to the library an art gallery in the former Congregational Church sanctuary and the 267-seat John Elliott Theatre. While the renovation failed to address issues of parking and included only half the space the previous studies had identified was required for library service, the facility was a dramatic improvement.
A New Millennium - Further enhancements and additions to the Library’s collections and partnerships continued in the early years of the new century. Advances in technology saw items in the collection progress from an introduction of 35 DVD titles at the Acton Branch in 2002, to loaning out eReaders less than ten years later. Towards the end of the decade, the Library celebrated Ontario Public Library Week with the official launch of a new type of online, library catalogue that let patrons interact with others by reading and posting reviews of books and other materials. In 2006, a property directly adjacent to the Georgetown Branch became available for purchase, resulting in space to expand the branch to the needed size of approximately 26,000 square feet. With the support of the Library Board and a feasibility study, the Town purchased the property. A planning committee composed of representatives from the Library Board, Town and senior library staff was formed. The committee worked to prepare a report detailing plans for the Georgetown Branch Renovation/Expansion project, which was presented to a special meeting of Council by the Library Board. The newly renovated and expanded Georgetown Branch was officially opened January 26, 2013. The project allowed the branch to grow in size from 12,000 to 34,400 square feet, including space shared with the Cultural Centre. The new and up-to-date features in the revitalized building include greatly expanded collection space for Children’s and Adult materials, a Teen Lounge area, a Seniors space with Fireside Lounge, a large Children’s Program Room, a large multi-purpose meeting room available for rentals, a dedicated Local History Room, permanent space for Community Partners, study rooms, Internet stations, wireless Internet access throughout the facility, self-serve checkout stations, geothermal heating and cooling systems and a green roof.
The Georgetown collection sprang from a related tradition--that of the Mechanic's Institutes. These were associations whose principal purpose was to encourage those who had finished school, particularly members of the working class, to continue their education. Evening classes and special lectures were a significant part of the program of the Mechanic's Institutes, along with a library and a reading room stocked with newspapers and magazines. Formed with considerable enthusiasm in the spring of 1880, the Georgetown Mechanic's Institute’s collection grew rapidly for about three years. Occasionally helped out by a grant of $25 or $40 (and free rent) from the village council, the Georgetown Mechanic's Institute frequently failed to qualify for any money from the province. Annual membership fees of a dollar were a day’s wages for the working men the Institute was supposed to benefit. By 1895 new provincial legislation encouraged its directors to turn the whole collection (nearly 1,300 volumes) over to the village on the condition that access to it be free for all residents of the village.
The Birth of a Free Public Library and Library Boards - In charge of the newly created free public libraries were the newly appointed public library boards. In both communities, board members included a representative of Council. In Acton this included the irrepressible H.P. Moore, editor and owner of the Acton Free Press, John Cameron, a local builder, and the Presbyterian, Anglican and Methodist ministers.
Both collections continued to be housed in the respective Town Halls. In Georgetown hope sprang eternal that the Carnegie estate, which had been so generous with other public libraries across North America, could be persuaded to donate towards a new building. They were turned down in 1903 and again in 1910. The solution presented itself in 1912, when the members of the local Congregational Church, anticipating the union of the Congregational Church with those of the Methodists and Presbyterians, decided to move next door to Knox Presbyterian. The founding president of the Georgetown Mechanics Institute, and leading local industrialist, John R. Barber, with the other trustees of the Congregational Church deeded the building to the Town to be used as a library. The conditions of sale included the provisos that no gambling of any kind be permitted on the premises, that the Memorial window remain, and that the Church bell be rung each Sabbath for Church Services. The Carnegie Foundation was promptly asked for $4,000 to cover the cost of renovating the building, which was as promptly refused. J.B. McKenzie of Acton was given the contract for renovations (rest rooms, a new metal ceiling) and the library opened in its new official home on October 10, 1913. Having just escaped a corner of the old Town Hall there was substantial extra space despite dividing part of the building for use as an auditorium. It was equipped with gymnastic equipment, which during World War I was used for training recruits. Just after the war, the YMCA used the facilities.
The 1981 Georgetown Branch Renovation - The biggest issue was the severely cramped library in Georgetown. Gone was the auditorium, and extra meeting rooms in the basement. All available space was crammed with books, and the beginnings of an audio-visual collection. A calculation based on the American Library Association standards for public library service said Georgetown needed a library of about 25,000 square feet. It was stuffed into a building with less than 6,000. Renovating and expanding on the Church St. location was looked at and discarded as inadequate; plans were drawn up for a new site two blocks down Main St. at Cedarvale Park, a setting very reminiscent of the Acton location. When this was blocked, the site at Church and Market was significantly enlarged and renovated. The Halton Hills Library and Cultural Centre opened in October 1981, adding to the library an art gallery in the former Congregational Church sanctuary and the 267-seat John Elliott Theatre. While the renovation failed to address issues of parking and included only half the space the previous studies had identified was required for library service, the facility was a dramatic improvement.
A New Millennium - Further enhancements and additions to the Library’s collections and partnerships continued in the early years of the new century. Advances in technology saw items in the collection progress from an introduction of 35 DVD titles at the Acton Branch in 2002, to loaning out eReaders less than ten years later. Towards the end of the decade, the Library celebrated Ontario Public Library Week with the official launch of a new type of online, library catalogue that let patrons interact with others by reading and posting reviews of books and other materials. In 2006, a property directly adjacent to the Georgetown Branch became available for purchase, resulting in space to expand the branch to the needed size of approximately 26,000 square feet. With the support of the Library Board and a feasibility study, the Town purchased the property. A planning committee composed of representatives from the Library Board, Town and senior library staff was formed. The committee worked to prepare a report detailing plans for the Georgetown Branch Renovation/Expansion project, which was presented to a special meeting of Council by the Library Board. The newly renovated and expanded Georgetown Branch was officially opened January 26, 2013. The project allowed the branch to grow in size from 12,000 to 34,400 square feet, including space shared with the Cultural Centre. The new and up-to-date features in the revitalized building include greatly expanded collection space for Children’s and Adult materials, a Teen Lounge area, a Seniors space with Fireside Lounge, a large Children’s Program Room, a large multi-purpose meeting room available for rentals, a dedicated Local History Room, permanent space for Community Partners, study rooms, Internet stations, wireless Internet access throughout the facility, self-serve checkout stations, geothermal heating and cooling systems and a green roof.