History of the Balmertown Public Library

The early years … (? – 1970)

The Balmertown library began at its present site under the guidance of Bill Bowman – Chairman of the Recreation Committee. A Frontier College teacher, Mr. H. Pilgram, brought the Frontier Library books from the Dickenson Rec. Hall and catalogued these as a library nucleus. Most books were acquired through donation, the expenses of the library, rental, etc. were paid from Recreation funds – it was always difficult to convince “Recreation” of the needs of the library.

Margaret Jarvis, the daughter of William Jarvis, the Campbell Mine geologist also did work cataloguing and shelving books, on a volunteer basis, no one was paid for anything.

Margery Mickoash was the first library representative on the Recreation Board. At that time Iva Green was the Librarian. M.L. Pine replaced Mrs. Mickolash around 1968. The library was becoming very active and the need for more funds was pressing. In effect there was not a school library and reference books were in constant demand as witnessed by the students crowded around a work table each evening. Recreation would not supply more money – they wanted to buy globes or tables etc., anything but books.

Without reference to the Recreation Committee M. L. Pine began a study of the Public Library Act of Ontatio and presented a brief to the Improvement District of Balmertown, who was very receptive and the process moved quickly and the Balmertown Public Library was born with its own advisory committee.

Library Advisory Committee (LAC):

The first meeting of the LAC was held on March 5, 1970. Members of the board were:

Mrs. Margaret L. Pine – Chairman

Mrs. Iva Green – Secretary

Mrs. Mary Geddes

Mrs. Ann Rohtla

Mrs. Edna Bremmer

Mrs. Mary Reid

The LAC was responsible to the Improvement District of Balmertown (I.D.B.) Board of Trustees. The first budget was about $1200/year, the librarian, Mrs. Iva Green, received a small salary and the volunteers stated getting paid $1.50/hour. Each month, bils were submitted to the I.D.B. board, which made the payments.

In the early 1970’s most of the books came from the Northwest Regional bookmobile, many of which were on ‘permanent’ loan. Some books also came from the second-hand market in the states. The only books, which were bought, were reference and quality children’s books. The budget also made it possible to buy some magazines.

Eventually the bookmobile became too expensive to operate, so the local libraries went to the regional library in Thunder Bay to select books for the book exchange. The regional library paid any shipping charges on books sent to or from the libraries.

At the present time, books are bought periodically from publishing houses. As well, book-buying trips are made into Winnipeg.

When the LAC first became established, there were workshops in Dryden dealing with a Librarian Training Program. These workshops were attended by both LAC and staff members. The following received certificates for completion of the program: Mrs. Phyllis Kishynski, Mrs. Ann Rohtla, Mrs. Anges Baker and Mrs. Iva Green. During this workshop course they prepared a Library Policy as an assignment. This policy was used as the basis for the library policy to be set up in the Balmertown Public Library. This policy was accepted June 1974. Since that time, periodical workshops and conferences have been held in Dryden and Thunder Bay.

In December 1975, Mrs. Iva Green retired from the Public Library because of illness. Mrs. Arlene Johnson replaced her in March 1976.

In June 1982, the LAC became the Public Library Board (as created by the Ontario Municipal Board). Members of the new board were the same as the members of the LAC and were appointed to the same positions.

Currently (1984), the number of registered borrowers for the library is 528 in an area whose population is 2117.