By Andrea Arnold
On the afternoon of Saturday, October 19th, 2024, some questionable but familiar characters were seen entering the McBride and District Public Library. Among these were James Harriot, Gandalf, Pippy Longstocking and Little Red Riding Hood.
These characters were joined by about 100 others over the course of the afternoon as the McBride and District Public Library celebrated their 75th birthday. The party invitation asked that guests come dressed as their favourite character from a book or author and there would be prizes for the best costumes.
“The weekend’s milestone event was a joyous celebration of the space, the institution, the staff and volunteers over the years, and the community as a whole,” said outgoing Library Director Abi Ward.
Ward has worked as the director for about four years and is moving on to a new position as the Director of the North Central Library Federation and North East Library Federation. The McBride and District Library is in the process of hiring a new director.
From the pages of history
The community of McBride first opened a reading room in February of 1915. The room, located in the train station, held games, papers and books. All items were lent to the room from area residents and could be borrowed by users who paid a 25 cent monthly subscription fee. It is likely that the room served the community until the train station burned down in 1918.
It was 31 years later in 1949 that the McBride Public Library Association was formed by a determined group of residents. The 60 chartered members of the association each contributed a dollar, and became the founders of the library. A tiny building was purchased, and it was placed on a piece of land on third avenue that was loaned by the McBride School Board.
Records state that the small building was heated by a wood stove. It was so cold that during the winter, the librarian had to go into work early to light a fire and warm the books.
The facade of this tiny building is now located at the back of the Valley Museum & Archives, and is attached to the small library storage building.
In 1967, through grants, savings, fundraising and donations of labour, the library was given a new location next to the Public Health Unit on Dominion Street. This new Centennial Library continued to grow and in the mid-1980s it again outgrew its space. Together, the Library Association and the Valley Museum & Archives Society applied for a grant through The Expo Legacy Fund to cover costs for an expansion. However, construction costs increased faster than they could keep up with. Through a referendum, it was decided that the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George would provide operating money through Robson Valley and McBride taxes.
In the early 2000s, the need for computer space and library programming began to exceed the existing space, so the building next door — the former Health Unit — was purchased by the Library, and renamed the Library Annex.
In 2018, following another referendum, the Library and the Museum moved into their current space at 521 Main. Since the move, the Library has been able to offer more programming for residents of all ages, including computer support and usage. In 2022, they added an outdoor garden space to the property that can be used either for outdoor programs or by members of the public.
Since its inception in 1949, the McBride & District Public Library Association has gone from having no building of its own, to not much more than a shack, to what is now an exceptional Public Library for a town of this size. Ward estimates the Library sees around 20,000 visitors a year, many of them repeat visitors.
“The shared 2,200 square foot building for the library and museum on Main Street was always envisioned as a welcoming space for the whole community,” said Ward. “The library’s increased visitor numbers since the move in 2018 have cemented its status as a community hub. McBride library offers free access to the internet, public computers, free books, magazines and DVDs, quality programming for all ages, and even free educational courses provided by Gale.”
With the arrival of a new director will come new ideas and programs as the library continues to serve the community.
