History
The office of librarian in Brougham dates back to 1841. The third by-law passed by Pickering Township Council on 4 Jan, 1841 resolved that " a librarian be appointed in order to make the books given by Mrs. Small (Mr. Small was the sitting member of Parliament) available to the public. Mr. Andrew Thomson, Tavern Keeper was appointed to the post.
The Mechanics Institute was actually the first library in Brougham and was active prior to 1895. Mr. Bodell kept books in his shoe shop to be loaned to villagers and local farmers. These books were mostly classics and technical books. On March 4, 1922 a library board was formed and it moved that the members organize under the Public Libraries Act. The motion was carried and the Brougham Association Library was conceived. On April 30, 1922 Mrs. T.C. Brown was appointed librarian. The library collection was moved to her home and she was paid 5 dollars for rent, 5 dollars for her services and the township gave a grant of 40 dollars. Members were charged a fee of 25 cents. Mrs. Brown remained the librarian for 30 years and was succeeded in 1952 by Mrs. Lloyd Johnston, a professional librarian.
In the village of Claremont the Mechanics Institute was established Oct. 21, 1891. On November 21, 1891, 40 subscribers met and officers were elected. A constitution and by-laws were drawn up and Mr. Jobbit was hired as the first librarian at a yearly salary of 5 dollars. The Township of Pickering awarded a grant of 20 dollars. In 1895 the name was changed to the Claremont Association Library. In 1925 land was donated for a new library and the new building was shared with the fire department. The Claremont Library remained in this building until June 21, 1997 when it moved to share a building with the Claremont Community Center.
In 1967 Centennial year Pickering Township was incorporated. The local library boards were dissolved and the Pickering Township Library Board was formed. Claremont was one of the five libraries involved and Mrs. Porter who had been the librarian at Claremont continued in that capacity until she retired in 1971.
In 1925 the Whitevale library league raised 500 dollars to purchase the building (which was formerly the Standard Bank of Markham). Mr. Norman Miller who was the local blacksmith was appointed librarian and remained in that post until 1955. A membership fee of 25 cents per year was charged to pay for books. In January 1967 the Whitevale Library League agreed to become part of the Township of Pickering Public Library. The Whitevale Library operated out of that same building until January 1, 2013, when the Pickering Library Board decided to close the Whitevale Branch.
Read more about this topic: Pickering Public Library
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