Before Oshawa Public Libraries included a south end branch, people living in south Oshawa had limited access to Library services. For a long time they had only the downtown Library to visit, and this depended on finding the means to get there.

Statistics showed Library usage was increasing and there was a need for services to be extended to the south Oshawa community. For three decades temporary solutions ranged from a book deposit at Cedardale Public School, a mobile trailer at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, and service at Sydenham Post.

Robert Hann’s generous gift of rent-free space in his Lake Vista Plaza at Cedar and Wentworth Streets finally gave south Oshawa a permanent library. The gift was made in memory of Robert’s father, Jess Hann.

Mr. Hann’s generosity continued when he extended the Library’s rent-free lease from 15 years to 25 consecutive years and donated $60,000 to be used for books and furniture at the new branch. The Jess Hann branch opened on March 1, 1977, and, within 10 months, the branch circulated 76,500 items to a membership of 4,600.

It was later renovated in 1989 with funds from the Jess Hann Reserve.

In 2007, Oshawa Public Libraries celebrated 30 years of serving the south Oshawa community by renovating the Jess Hann Branch. The new design included a reading area with a fireplace, a dedicated children’s space with large murals, bright furniture and new children’s computers, wireless Internet access, and new Career Centre with technological resources. On May 5, 2007, Mayor John Gray and members of the Jess Hann Family were on hand to re-dedicate the branch.