Books & Audiobooks
An Introduction to Libraries in Ontario
During the 18th century, due to the improvements made in printing methods, books had become more readily available. The first recorded library in Ontario was that of Newark (now Niagara-on-the-Lake) which was established in June 1800. It was a subscription library with an annual fee of $4.00 which, at that time, was a lot of money.
By the 1830’s, what were known as Mechanics’ Institutes were being formed in places such as Kingston and Toronto. These became broader in mandate than the earlier subscription libraries, and “were intended to provide their members – ‘mechanics and workingmen’ – with lectures, classes, reading rooms, and lending libraries.”
Old Waterloo Public Library due date card from the 1980s
History of WPL
In 1876, the Waterloo Public Library started with a simple table of books in the Town Hall and a dream to grow. The first dedicated library building was erected with the help of a Carnegie grant in 1905. Over 140 years later, WPL is still growing with four locations and more resources than ever.
In December, the board of the Waterloo Mechanics’ Institute is formed. The following year, it begins with a single table of English and German books on the second floor of Waterloo Town Hall. Members are required to pay a $2.00 subscription fee.
The Waterloo Mechanics’ Institute becomes the Waterloo Free Library. This follows the trends of Mechanics’ Institutes across Canada. The library is now supported by tax dollars instead of membership fees.
The Waterloo Free Library is growing! The library operates out of a room at the Town Hall and has a collection of over 5000 volumes. The librarian is paid $120 a year and serves 450 library customers—a number that doubles the following year.
The library board petitions Waterloo Town Council for an additional Reading Room at the Town Hall. Their request is turned down because the space is needed for the Fire Brigade. It becomes clear that the Waterloo Free Library needs a dedicated library building.
Mayor David Bean writes to Andrew Carnegie to apply for a grant of $10,000 to build a library in Waterloo. Andrew Carnegie was an American steel magnate who funded library buildings all over the world. After some convincing, Carnegie grants the funds and plans for the new library building begin.
The Carnegie Library opens its doors to the public. The citizens of Waterloo now enjoy a beautiful red brick library built in the Classical Revival style. Emma Belle Roos is the first librarian in the new building. She holds this position for 46 years.
The very first children’s story hour is held at the library. It’s a success, and the library puts on nine more story times that year. Around 42 children attend each event.
The Carnegie Library’s second floor is renovated to make room for a dedicated Children’s Department. The work is done by people who had lost their jobs in the Great Depression.
The Waterloo Public Library opens on Sunday afternoons to provide more access for customers. It is the first public library in Ontario to provide Sunday service. It becomes a very popular time for university and high school students to visit.
As the City of Waterloo grows, the Waterloo Public Library grows with it. The Carnegie Library building is no longer big enough to provide adequate library service. A new, modern library is proposed as a Canada Centennial project.
On June 11, the new Waterloo Public Library building opens at 35 Albert Street. Designed by architects Horton and Ball, the new library features colourful furniture, a teen section and a vinyl record room. The project costs a total of $515,000.
On September 15, Parkside Branch (later renamed McCormick Branch) becomes the second Waterloo Public Library location. This library branch shares its building with the Albert McCormick Arena. The combined library/recreation space is a successful new concept and becomes the model for future library branches in Waterloo.
Services at the Waterloo Public Library expand! Talking books on cassette tapes are introduced, and the Homebound Readers program begins. Homebound Readers is a program that brought library material to customers who were unable to leave their homes. The service is now known as Visiting Library Service.
The original Carnegie Library building is given a heritage designation by the City of Waterloo. This recognizes the significance of the early library and the role it played in Waterloo’s history.
After two years of construction, the Main Library’s expansion is complete. The library celebrates with a grand reopening party that features a puppet show, magician and tours of the new space. The expansion extends over the parking lot and doubles the square footage of the upper level.
The library moves into the digital age and barcodes over 133,000 books that are inputted into a computer system called Dynix. The same year, the Parkside Branch is renamed the McCormick Branch.
Building on the success of Dynix, the library adds a service called DialPAC. This allows customers to “dial in” from home to access the catalogue or place holds. The following year over 22,000 calls are logged and 2,300 holds are placed.
The Waterloo Public Library receives funding to offer free public internet access.
Six new computer workstations are purchased with a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The popular Microsoft Office software is now available for use at the Main Library. The library also launches its very first website!
The Main Library is the first library in Waterloo Region to provide public WiFi. The service is offered in partnership with FibreTech Telecommunications. Customers connect to the internet using their laptops and personal digital assistants (PDAs).
Due date cards are out and RFID tags are in! Library staff add radio frequency tags to over 400,000 items to improve checkout times. Customers now receive their due date notices in receipt form and self-checkouts are introduced.
On October 22, the John M. Harper Branch becomes the third Waterloo Public Library location. After many years of planning, this 21,000 square foot, LEED Certified building opens to the public. It features an automated sorter, a glassed-in courtyard and shares its building with the YMCA.
The John M. Harper Branch and Teeple Architects win the Ontario Library Association’s New Library Building Award.
The Waterloo Public Library’s Explore Play Learn early literacy initiative receives the Angus Mowat Award of Excellence. The Ontario Public Library Service Awards recognize public libraries for their creative library service ideas.
The library continues to meet changing community needs. Mobile internet hotspots and board games are the first Cool Things to Borrow to be added to the collection. Both become an immediate success!
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Waterloo Public Library launches “WPL-To-Go“ curbside service. Customers are able to pick up library materials during various lockdown measures. All library programming goes virtual which provides fun and educational connections during a difficult year.
On May 7, the Eastside Branch becomes the fourth Waterloo Public Library location. On opening day, over 2,200 people visit the new branch and explore the services offered in the Digispace, Gamerspace, and Naturespace. Later that year, the Eastside Branch and John MacDonald Architect win the Ontario Library Association’s New Library Building Award.