Several blocks north of the downtown core, the library is a bit away from many of the other amenities in town. Much like museums, we often seem to visit either too early or too late in the day, finding them closed. Such was the case here.
Listed on their Services page are: Computers, Internet & Printing, eBooks & audioBooks, Online Databases, Equipment Loans, Photocopies & Faxes, Outreach Services and Art on Display. We assume the "Internet to mean that they have free Wi-Fi in the building, which has become the norm. The website also contains an extensive list of online resources.
Housed in its present location in the former RCMP building since 2001, the library has moved at least eight times since its incorporation on June 5th, 1963. In 2011 the library initiated an new program for the "Bigger" kids, namely and arts and crafts program. It was even designed to attract boys who would be more comfortable wielding more massive tools, such as hammers. A news article on the program can be seen below.
Though the library is officially 54 years old, as of 2017, its beginnings took place about 40 years prior, in 1924. Below is the beginning of the story of the Invermere Public Library.
History of the Library
The Invermere Public Library has come a long way in its 50 years of incorporation. But there were actually other attempts at establishing library service for the valley for at least 40 years before this date. I’d like to take you through a bit of a history of library service in the community over the last 90 years and tell you some of the stories that we like to share time and again. The pictures in the slide show are a collection from our library archives and scrapbooks that will also provide you with a visual history of the library.
And so, the library timeline begins tonight in 1924 with this short article that appeared in the community newspaper:
1924: Mrs. A. H. MacCarthy made a generous gift of many volumes. A public meeting was held and a decision was made to form a library association for the Windermere Mining Division. The membership fee was set at $1 per year. (which would be about $15/year in 2013)
In 1925, another newspaper article reported that the Lake Windermere Public Library was open on Wednesdays and Saturdays and was described as being generously patronized. There were some 1000 volumes on the shelves in all sections of the book room and further consignments of another 1000 volumes were on the way. Contributors to date had included Mrs. A. H. MacCarthy, Rev. F.B. Atkinson, F.C. Stockdale, A.M. Chisholm, R. R. Bruce, Mrs. P.W. Turnor, Mrs. Basil G. Hamilton, Mr. Robinson of the Vancouver Public Library, and Dr. Calhoun of the Calgary Public Library.
A 1927 newspaper article described the Lake Windermere Public Library Association as a laudable institution of the area. At this time, there was a collection 1400 odd books that had been further augmented by the presentation of 20 volumes of modern fiction from the shelves of Commander J.C. Powles, RN. Talks were under way at that time with representatives in Chicago to acquire some of that city’s pro-English literature including a copy of “Secret of England’s Greatness” which had been sent by Queen Victoria herself and was described as being “especially prized”.
In 1931, the Lake Windermere Public Library Association practically closed its doors as the undertaking was not the success that had been hoped for. The books were handed over to a committee to arrange the sale of them at prices starting at $0.05 to $1.00. Net proceeds were to be given to the Windermere District Hospital Association...
Continued at the Invermere Public Library