We had previously placed a hide here, just outside the home to BC's first library that was established in 1865, but it as removed by the recent renovations. Unfortunately the the materials used in the building didn't allow for the same type of hide but part of the change did allow us to finally use a container we've been wanting to place for a while. This area is definitely a fish bowl with muggles both inside and outside the library, it really adds to the difficulty so you'll have to use extreme stealth on this one.
1865 to the Great Fire
The New Westminster Public Library is a vibrant, modern library situated in the city of New Westminster (pop. 52,000), in the Greater Vancouver area of British Columbia, Canada.
The Library holds the distinction of being the first public library in the province of British Columbia. It owes its existence to two events. In 1865, New Westminster was the capital of the mainland colony of British Columbia, recently carved from the forest on the banks of the Fraser River by the Royal Engineers. When the Regiment disbanded, it donated its collection of books brought from England to create a public library for the City. At the same time, Queen Victoria offered a copy of her late husband Prince Albert's speeches "to the public libraries of her more important colonies".
The first Library and Reading Room was established in 1865 through financial support from the colonial government and membership fees charged to the public. On August 15th, 1865 the Library opened in the quarters of the former Mint where it remained until 1890. During the first two years of its existence, the Library was well funded by the government but by 1868 all government aid was withdrawn. The Library was forced to rely entirely upon subscriptions and limped along for the next 22 years. By 1890 the Mint building was in a terrible state of decay, which was particularly noticeable when compared with the many fine new buildings that were being built in New Westminster.
Bowing to public pressure, the City Council decided to take action. The Dominion government agreed to donate the Columbia Street property where the Mint building stood, on the condition that a proper library building would be built and maintained by the City as a free public library. The old Mint building was demolished and following an architectural competition, work began on Architect G.W. Grant's winning plan for a three-storey stone and brick building. Books were ordered from England and the new Library opened in 1892.
Unfortunately, the beautiful new library building was doomed to a short existence. On the night of September 10, 1898 the building was destroyed in the Great Fire. The only items not burned were those books checked out and a few saved by Alderman William A. Johnson, among them the Queen's book.
Only one month after the Great Fire, New Westminster residents were lobbying to open a new library. A temporary Reading Room was established in half of a store building, with the other half occupied by the Fire Department, including its horses.
Notice on the wall read, "Visitors are cautioned against damaging in any way the newspapers, magazines or other reading matter or removing without authority any material from the reading room. Smoking, chewing, spitting and talking strictly prohibited."
This situation existed from 1899 until 1901 but was less than satisfactory and it was finally decided that the Library's former Columbia Street site should be used for a new civic building. The City Hall and Police Department were to be housed on the main floor with the Library to be on the second floor.
Soon after it was completed however, the library’s space was required for civic administration and so the City began to investigate the possibility of obtaining money from the Carnegie Corporation. Andrew Carnegie was a wealthy philanthropist who, as a firm believer in the importance and value of a free public library, donated money to communities across the United States, parts of Canada and the United Kingdom, for the construction of libraries.
1902 - 1958
The Carnegie Corporation donated $15,000 for the library building on condition that the City of New Westminster would provide the site and a minimum of $1,500 per year to support it. This was readily agreed to and the cornerstone of the Library was laid on October 1st, 1902 in a ceremony attended by many New Westminster citizens.
The building was completed in October 1903, but due to a shortage of books and political wrangling, between City Council and the Library Commissioners, the new Library did not open until 1905.
The years in the Carnegie Library saw the development of the first consistent modern community services, accompanied by increased expectations of New Westminster residents. For the first time, professionally trained librarians were hired, the book stacks were opened to the public (prior to this, library patrons requested titles which were kept in a closed area), and both Children's and Reference Rooms were created.
The Depression years were very difficult financially while library services were in even greater demand. In the mid 1930's, 5,500 people were registered as borrowers, and the Library was circulating 150,000 books a year, all on an annual budget of only $10,000!
2013 to the present
In May 2013 the New Westminster Public Library opened its first-ever branch in 148 years, in the revitalized Queensborough Community Centre. This branch will serve the needs of the community in Queensborough and provide them with convenient access to Library services alongside other great New Westminstser Parks, Culture, and Recreation facilities.
The Library continues to be well used, with over 570,000 people visiting the Main Branch and borrowing more than 830,000 items in 2011.
As planning begins to replace or expand the existing Main Branch, the Library looks forward to maintaining its high level of service to the people of New Westminster with improved space and collections to meet the growing needs of a growing population.