"Da" Book Mystery Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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The co-ordinates will take you to the front doors of the Medicine
Hat Public Library.
The history of publicly accessible libraries in Medicine Hat
actually dates back to 1890, with the establishment of the ‘Reading
Room’ behind St. Barnabas Anglican Church. It was the brainchild of
Reverend Walter Garnet Lyon, who initially planned a Church
Library. Plans were changed in favour of a non-denominational
community subscription library. Public announcement of the planned
library was recorded in the Medicine Hat News on 17 July 1890.
Subscriptions were called for, fund raising events undertaken, and
donations of library materials were accepted from both parish
members and the broader community. Construction of a building
behind St. Barnabas Church on Montreal Street (Fourth Street) began
in October, and the official opening ceremony was held 5 December
1890. The ‘Reading Room’ was short-lived. Some parishioners
believed that subscribers from England and eastern Canada had
donated on the understanding that a Church Library was being
established; issues of responsibility, ownership, and liability
were raised. Bishop Anson ordered the Church to end the community
library by either selling the library to the community or by
assuming direct ownership. In January 1892, the Church agreed to
assume ownership of the building and refund the money donated by
subscribers who were not Anglican parishioners.
The need for a public library in Medicine Hat did not go away, of
course. There are records from 1909 showing the citizen agitation
for a public library. The Medicine Hat News spurred the cause,
insisting in a 1912 editorial that a library was a necessity and
not a luxury, and that it was the city's duty to provide access to
books for its citizens. Public-minded citizens added their voice to
the campaign until the city passed a bylaw in 1914 establishing a
library board and initiating the creation of a library. In November
of the following year, the library opened its doors, proudly
displaying its collection of books in two rented rooms in the
Huckvale Block. The library had a start-up grant of $500 from the
city; $300 of that, along with books generously donated by Medicine
Hat citizens, was used to establish that initial collection.
The next year the library was instructed not to spend more than 50
cents on each book. The librarian, Hugh Hassard, earned $25 a
month. At the same period, teachers were being paid $60 a month,
suites rented from $15 to $25 a month, and twenty-three bars of
Lifebuoy Soap cost $1. Times were so tough that one librarian was
even asked to perform janitorial duties so the library could lay
off the janitor.
The library grew rapidly, outgrowing the Huckvale Block and three
other locations in quick succession. Finally the library moved to
more stable quarters, the former Bank of Montreal building on the
corner of 3rd Street and South Railway. This building remained the
library's home until 1964.
Much happened during that 36 years. Services (and space) were
extended to include a children's library, a meeting room, a film
and music collection, and a Teen Room. Library activities were well
reported in the local paper, and the odd scandalous story helped to
add a touch of drama.
By the late 1950s, the library was occupying the full building and
required more room for its collections and services. There was much
discussion over a new building, with the few voices in opposition
dramatically outnumbered by the vociferous support. The result? An
overwhelming vote in favour of a new library built on the riverbank
amid much excitement.
The new building led to greater use, the development of more
library programs and services. Only two short decades later
discussion once again began for more library space.
The 1980s also saw the development of the Shortgrass Library
System, with Medicine Hat Public Library as its resource centre,
and computerized circulation of materials. Nineteen ninety-three
saw the realization of ten years of negotiating, and the opening of
an expanded library incorporating the original 1963 building but
nearly doubling its size. Nineteen ninety-eight and 1999 were the
beginnings of the true intertwining of electronic resources with
more traditional library resources through public internet access
and access to electronic subscriptions.
Info from library history book, as received from Rachel
Sarjeant-Jenkins
The cache is really too small for trades but there are two gift
certificates for membership to the Library. If you will use the
membership feel free to take one of the certificates to the
information desk. Library policy applies. If you wish, you may
purchase a gift certificate for membership and add it to the cache.
I have rated the difficulty as 2 because you will need to rely on
the clues to find the cache.
***Library hours change from season to season so please check the hours before heading for this one***
Library hours are: Monday - Thursday - 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday - 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Sunday - 1:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
1) Pnpur vf ybpngrq va "Svpgvba" frpgvba bs yvoenel nf gurl qb abg unir n zlfgrel/qenzn frpgvba.
2) Gur obbx jnf choyvfurq va 2004 naq znqr vagb n zbivr va 2006 qverpgrq ol Eba Ubjneq naq fgneevat Gbz Unaxf naq Nhqerl Gnhgbh;
3) Zbivr frg va gur Ybhier va Cnevf, Senapr;
4) Gur zbivr vf nobhg n zheqre vafvqr gur Ybhier naq pyhrf va cnvagvatf yrnq gb gur qvfpbirel bs n eryvtvbhf zlfgrel cebgrpgrq ol n frperg fbpvrgl sbe gjb gubhfnaq lrnef.
5) Gur abiry naq fhofrdhrag zbivr unir cebibxrq n cbchyne vagrerfg va fcrphyngvba pbapreavat gur Ubyl Tenvy yrtraq naq gur ebyr bs Znel Zntqnyrar va gur uvfgbel bs Puevfgvnavgl. Gur abiry unf orra rkgrafviryl pevgvpvmrq
ol Pngubyvpf naq bgure Puevfgvnaf nf n qvfubarfg nggnpx ba gur Puhepu. Vg unf nyfb orra pevgvpvmrq sbe uvfgbevpny vanpphenpl.
6) Nygubhtu gur obbx vf cheryl svpgvba, znal crbcyr guvax vg snpg.
7) Gur anzr bs gur pnpur ubyqf n pyhr.
Arrq zber pyhrf? Rznvy zr sbe gur anzr bs gur obbx!
Treasures
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