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& FSA O00 FA TOR PORT PERRY STAR -- Wed., November 14, 1979 -- 19 Elaine Hammett Libraries go back in time as far as the written word and libraries in:schools and universities have been known for many centuries. But the library as an aspect of further education and com- munity service has its beginning in the nineteenth century. In Ontario, early records show informal library associations in the first years of the past century. The first library legislation in Ontario was the "Library Association and Mechanics Institute Act" passed by the legislation of Upper Canada in 1851. The purpose of Mechanics Institute was to provide for '"mechanics" which meant clerks, tradesmen and working men in general, lectures on all manner of subjects and to make available reading material. By 1892 there were 268 Mechanic Institutes ¢ in Ontario. Three years later a provin- 3 cial act converted them into either free municipal public libraries or association libraries under fee-paying private con- trol. In researching the history of the library in Port Perry, we discover that ¢ in the mid 1850's the Mechanic Institute was formed and held in a brand new building on Rosa Street for the dual purpose of a Library and Community % Hall. For many years concerts, plays, suppers, and entertainment of all kinds were held there for the up-keep of the library and otehr public interests. By 1875 the library was located in the McCaw business block as the other building 'had been sold to the Baptist Church. A 1932 edition of the Port Perry Star claims that the original library building, later a Baptist Church is now 3K IK KR CIC KK HK MK SK HK HICK MK RK > istory Of The Library used at the fairgrounds as a women's building. About 1890 the library was discon- tinued and the books sold by the wheel- barrow load. About 1895 the Womens Christian Temperance Union, feeling the need of keeping the boys off the street, opened a reading room. The room was lighted, heated and furnished with chairs and periodicals. A few years later by house- to-house canvass and other means, funds were raised and an Associate Library formed. For 30 years the struggle to finance this library was very great. In the early 1900's the reading room was located on the second floor where the Royal Bank is today. In 1922 Scugog Chapter 1.0.D.E. started the idea of a 'War Memorial Library acting upon a suggestion of Mr. F.A. Kent. Through the efforts of Dr. Mellow and Reeve Gizary in February 1924 the Associate Library became the Public Free Library. The new Library Board set about raising money to purchase the property. In the meantime the War Memorial Committee and the Scugog Chapter 1.O0.D.E. set about raising funds for the War Memorial. In 1926 the burning of the schools set back the Library building as the people felt the schools should come first. The new War Memorial Library was officially opened May 24th, 1935 by The Honourable Dr. Herbert A. Bruce, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, assisted by General James A. MacBrien (both former Port Perry boys). Although public libraries serve children, the main responsibility of the public library is in the field of further education. The public library is the only Seve institution within which a large collection ™ of books and other material is made freely available to the public. Your library is one of the 20 members in the Central Ontario Regional Library h System that work together to improve library service. U There is little doubt that educational . % opportunities, information services, and cultural values provided by the library all affect the economy, the community, the citizen. The public library has had an honourable role in society for more than a century. The challenge of a rapidly changing world is one that your public x library is facing with determination. fi HE IK--IK--K HK IK KK HK KT KKK" World at your fingertips through the services of your local library For centuries the human race recorded events, philosophies, statistics, prescrip tions, advice, new knowledge, skills and stories of the day by means of special characters imposed on stone or parchment. These were capable of being read and understood by those people who were in- terested and involved with the information so recorded. Religions, laws, technologies, human societies, people successes or fail- ures, and the nature of our physical world have all been exposed over the years to the critical minds seeking expanded horizons. The invention of the printing press was an historic event. Here was a way to make the laboriously wrought records available to a multitude of people and create the basis for an explosion in the number of know- ledgeable people who would manipulate our societies for good and for evil, the overall results eventually being the betterment of human existence. The printing presses gave us books and collections of books became libraries - the repository for much of the knowledge available to mankind and the starting point in the search for new know- ledge and new understandings. Practically all educational institutions have libraries and the books, magazines and special papers are the focal point for what is being taught and what is being learned. In this day and age, when much attention is being given to multi-media resources such as films, slides, records, audio-video tapes, etc., it is sometimes worthwhile to stop and consider that books might be the most effective and least costly of our educational resources. The multi-media resources are useful and T.V., for better or for worse, has taken a significant position in the way we schedule our time and our lives. The crux of the matter is surely that a truly educated and informed person must be able to read well and comprehend the magnificent Dr. Gordon Willey President, Durham College resources we have in books and libraries. To become educated, to be innovative, to make judgements based on facts, to explore new worlds, new ideas, new scienti- fic discoveries and mankind's history of mistakes and achievements, one must rely on libraries. There is no other resource so fundamental to the transfer of knowledge from one generation to the next or for the enlightenment of all people who can read and will read. For sheer enjoyment, even T.V. cannot match a good book in the hands of a reader with a lively imagination opera- ting in cinemascope and technicolour. AHA DUAR Books are the main reason for the existence of libraries but modern tech- nology has invented other ways to inform and entertain people. Thus our community libraries and educational institutions also equip themselves with films, slides, records, etc. These audio-visual resources and books in braille are especially valued by the handicapped, although the whole population has access to them. Not forgetting the visual arts, libraries usually mount displays of art and may have lénding facilities for works of art as prints or originals. Libraries are community centres and with facilities for meetings and displays, they encourage people involvement and community service. For an excellent return on their invest- ment, every community should consider giving their library a top priority in finan- cial budgets and individual support. Their library can be a facilitator in enhancing the quality of life of the citizens and make them proud residents of a progressive town or city. Finally, talking specifically of the services offered by the Port Perry Library, it is important to note that readers may borrow books on any subject known to man, records for music and drama, as well as information ranging from technical to artis- tic knowledge. A housewife can obtain cookbooks and child care books. Children can attend special programs. The student is no farther away than the telephone for information on any project. Farmers, tradesmen, doctors, lawyers, and scholars can obtain books and research information concerning their respective professions. And all this is free. It is important to note that the public library will obtain a book for you on inter-library loan, if it is not avail- able locally. Consequently, you, the borrower, have the world at your fingertips, through the services of your local library. Ws. JH PN RTL 2 necessary for Scugog William G. Newman, M.P.P. Durham, York I would like to commend Mayor Jerry Taylor, members of the Scugog Council and the Library Board for their continued support and interest in the establishment of a new library building in Port Perry. An expanded facility is very necessary to serve the entire Township of Scugog and to meet the cultural and educational needs of all age groups. As the fund-raising campaign is about to get under way, I hope everyone will do their part to make it successful. I know we all look forward with antici- pation to seeing this project become a reality. Library needs your support Clifford G. Pilkey President, O.F.L. This is "your" library; you financed its operation through your taxes. When you pay for something, you like to make use of it. So too, the library can prove to be a very useful ally, but only if you use it. It allows access to the accumulated knowledge of mankind. What other institution has such a capacity for public exposure to, and hope- fully, understanding of our own, as well as foreign and extinct cultures. In Ontario, Labour's involvement with libraries dates back to December 24, 1830, with the establishment of the York Mechanics Institute. William Lyon Mac- Kenzie stated in 1834 that the Institute with its "lectures and its library for the working men of the country were welcomed as signs of the dawn of 'Rational Freedom","" More recently in 1975 the Ontario Federation of Labour appealed to the libraries to develop collections and services which would serve the informational and cultural needs of the community. The serving of these needs is the chal- lenge facing the Public Library system. KOIK--K b+} cnn ¥ DOOR-TO-DOOR y | LIBRARY CAMPAIGN |] % Your Library Improvement Finance % Committee will be continuing thier public fund-raising campaign with a door-to-door appeal commencing Saturday, November 17th and continuing until December 8th. Everyone is welcome to join the Campaign Kickoff Ceremonies at the Latcham Centre on Saturday, November 17th at 1:00 p.m. i x hy J A program of entertainment for KK children will be held from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. with refreshments provided. « MK MK MK > (Advertisement) ey So os