Temporary Closure:
Forest Heights Community Library is closed for in-person services starting Oct 25 for 6 weeks. Learn more.
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Title
History
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1854 | Establishment of the Mechanic’s Institute, committed to sharing information |
| 1884 | First free public library opens in the Town Hall with newspapers, periodicals, and 3,000 books |
| 1902 | Carnegie Foundation grants $15,000 for a new library building, plus more for furniture |
| 1904 | Berlin Public Library opens on January 8 |
| 1908 | Mabel Dunham hired as the first professional librarian in charge of a library in Ontario; a pioneer in children’s services |
| 1912 | Dunham introduces Children’s Story Hour |
| 1916 | Separate Children’s Room added to the library |
| 1944 | Mabel Dunham retires, and Dorothy Shoemaker is appointed as Chief Librarian |
| 1962 | Main Library (now Central Library) opens |
| 1971 | Community library in Stanley Park opens |
| 1973 | Lynn Matthews appointed as Chief Librarian |
| 1976 | Forest Heights library opens |
| 1978 | Addition to Main Library, and introduction of first automated catalogue |
| 1982 | Pioneer Park library opens |
| 1984 | Kitchener Public Library celebrates its 100th anniversary with the opening of the Grace Schmidt Room of Local History |
| 1993 | Margaret Walshe appointed as CEO (formerly known as Chief Librarian); led the library through a time of rapid technological change |
| 2001 | First public access computers at the library, paid for in part by a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| 2004 | Country Hills library opens |
| 2004 | Sonia Lewis appointed as CEO |
| 2010 | Official groundbreaking ceremony to begin Central Library renovation and expansion project |
| 2014 | Central Library renovation and expansion completed |
| 2015 | Mary Chevreau appointed as CEO |