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HomeMy WebLinkAbout585Brochure, 4 pages, 14 x 21.5 cm., designed to promote the Claremont Public Library at the time of the Claremont Sesquicentennial anniversary, 1988. The front cover has a sketch of the library building. Inside is a brief history of the Claremont Library and the back page has a list of some former board members and librarians at the Claremont Library. "THE HISTORY OF THE CLAREMONT LIBRARY The Claremont Library was established under the name of ""The Mechanics Institute"" in 1891. There were originally forty subscribers. A grant of $20 was given by the Township council. Mr. Jobbit was hired as the first librarian at a yearly salary of $5. The books were housed on his property and the library was open every Friday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Four years later the name was changed to the Claremont Association Library. In 1903 Mr. Judson Bundy was appointed Librarian when Mr. Jobbit retired. He housed the books and received $30 per year for salary, rent, fuel, light and caretaking. In 1925 land was donated for a new library. The new building was shared with the fire department, and is the same building which houses the library today. 1959 was a year of changes. The library was officially declared a Public Library. This resulted in a local tax levy for library purposes. The Dewey Decimal system was introduced, and a reference area was created. The Library Board, under the chairmanship of Dr. Tomlinson received permission from the village trustees in 1962 to use the other half of the library building when the fire department moved to other quarters. Remodeling began. The centre partition was removed and a new floor, front window and door were installed. Dr. Tomlinson donated the electric heating and lighting in memory of his wife who had been interested in the library. In the Centennial year (1967), the Pickering Township Library was incorporated. Claremont was included as one of the five original branches. For almost one hundred years, Claremont Library, the oldest branch in the system, has been a great asset to the residents of the village of Claremont and surrounding district. " "SOME FORMER BOARD MEMBERS Mr. M.J. Wilker Mrs. G.M. Forsyth Mrs. William Drew Mrs. Viola Forsyth Mr. Donald Hedges Mrs. Grant Taylor Mrs. Richard Cooper Mrs. George McConnell Mrs. C. Keevil Dr. Tomlinson SOME FORMER LIBRARIANS Mr. Jobbitt Mr. Judson Bundy Miss Walker Mrs. T. Gregg Mrs. Harry Porter PICKERING PUBLIC LIBRARY MAY 1988 "