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Great lovers of irony that we are, it sort of makes sense that 2020 was the year we got for our 125th anniversary “celebration”.
Though, according to a 1980s newspaper article, the official calculations actually flip-flopped a couple of times over the century, with various historical library occasions being subbed for Year One (more on that in Fun Fact 3).
That said, we feel completely justified in trying again next year and pretending this whole thing never happened (also known as the official motto of 2020). But not before a full 6-month test run of 2021. Even still, we did get to share some interesting facts about our library’s history.
To round out the year’s “festivities” we present you with our Top 5.
#5: TPL has always tried to actively partner with local media.
From approximately March 1989 to May 1993, Thorold News ran a column called New Books at Thorold Library. Each article began with the sentence “The following are the new books available at Thorold Public Library, 14 Ormond St., North” and then launched into a list of our newest arrivals. You got what you expected, news-wise, in those days. One standout was a book called Ventriloquism Made Easy: How to Talk to Your Hand Without Looking Stupid (basically everyone’s life goal). We thought there was no way we still had this title – oh, but we do. One review suggested that, “Once you start, you’ll be talking to yourself for hours” (everyone’s other life goal).
#4: TPL didn’t go digital until 1991.
Yes, there was the iconic, typewritten card catalogue, but there was also a great deal of handwritten labour, too - after which time it was unofficially declared that legible printing faced an uphill battle. Borrower cards, for instance, followed a strict caps/no caps policy with absolutely no exceptions to the use of a felt-tip pen. That may seem oddly specific, but it is found expressly indicated in a staff policy manual from 1977 (seemingly kept for no other purpose than this). Other Niagara libraries (yes, names were named) had complained of the unreadability of inferior pens. And so in began several ongoing rivalries.
#3: Okay, here’s the real shocker.
This whole 125 thing we’re on about? Might be a complete farce. According to an official TPL reference scrapbook, 1983 was the 125th anniversary. Now how could that be? Well, at that time they were counting from the establishment of the paid membership Mechanics Institute, not the move to a free lending library for the community at-large. Somewhere between 1983 and 1995 (our then “100 th ” celebration), someone decided to switch up the date of establishment to the latter. Who did it? Why? Where? Well, obviously here at the library. But as for the other two questions, we’ve found no official explanation.
#2: It’s official. They don’t make things like they used to.
We continue to house a 57-year-old children’s bookshelf prominently featured in the department unveiling of 1963 (pictured). Doesn’t look a day over – okay, no; it definitely looks it. How come all we can think about now is giving it a really good wipe down? (shudder). Other “well-loved” furniture pieces include our current circulation desk (original to our early ‘80s move) and meeting room chairs (which we’ve so far dated as far back as the early ‘90s). Is this information terrifying? Is it nostalgic? Definitely somewhere between the two.
#1: The New Public Library opened at our current location in 1983.
In case youre interested in that sort of thing, we have the itinerary from the days events. There was a prayer of dedication, tour of the new facility, and finally, a reception. The ribbon cutting was performed by Dr. Don McMillan and Ms. Joan Olley. No indication of the quality of fabric, but were going to assume from the group effort that it was pretty thick.
