![\"Carnegie](\"http:\/\/www.windsorpubliclibrary.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Carnegie-childrens-entrance-1960s.gif\" "\\"Carnegie")
<\/a>The launch of the new library generated new services and programs.\u00a0 In the new building, those over the age of 16 were able to select books from the shelves themselves, a move that was hoped to encourage reading.\u00a0\u00a0 A lecture series was also begun which hosted professors from Toronto University to put \u201cthis method of entertainment and instruction within reach of every person.\u201d (Andrew Braid, WPL Annual Report<\/i>, 1903)<\/p>\nUnder the direction of the WPL Board, library staff began to build up the selection of reading material.\u00a0 While more than half of the books in circulation were fiction (which was the most popular reading material), there were also books on most subjects including history, philosophy, science, religion and the languages.\u00a0 The reference department became a common resource for academic purposes for students and teachers. The librarians began creating lists of books on specific subjects and advertised them in the paper and distributing them in the library.<\/p>\n
Over the next decade, Windsor\u2019s population grew, as did the volumes of books in the library, and the need for more room and additional shelving became apparent.\u00a0 The library board discussed offering branch services on the east and west end and in 1914, an east end branch opened which offered biweekly deliveries of books.<\/p>\n
World events affected Windsor and the library when World War I began in 1914.\u00a0 Many Windsor residents joined the forces overseas while many others contributed at home.\u00a0 Encouraged to join community groups or service organizations, many Windsorites raised money, made blankets and clothing and created care packages for soldiers.\u00a0 The library also offered space to use for war work such as lectures, meetings and the packing of boxes to go overseas.<\/p>\n
Discussions of the war and its effects in newspapers, social groups and everyday life created a need for information in the community.\u00a0 People turned to the library to learn all they could about the conflict and war literature was in demand.<\/p>\n
In 1915, the WPL board established library branches for soldiers of the 241st<\/sup> Battalion and the quarters of the Construction Corp in the Windsor Driving Park grounds at Ouellette and Tecumseh, where Jackson Park is today.\u00a0 The library board also allowed circulation of pamphlets and leaflets in the library regarding recruitment, public service and rationing.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 1921, arrangements were made with the Town of Sandwich for library service at a rate of $200 annually.\u00a0 This arrangement was dissolved after Sandwich established its own library in 1923.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 1925, the Board made extensive modifications to the interior of Carnegie Library in an attempt to relieve the crowded conditions.\u00a0 The location of the front door was changed, making better use of the space, various departments were moved and shelving was built along both walls of a hallway that extended the length of the building.<\/p>\n The modifications alleviated the congested conditions of the library however, it was realized that a larger building was required for the library\u2019s services and programs.\u00a0 Carnegie Library had been built when the population of Windsor was around 13,400.\u00a0 Amalgamation of the Border Cities (Windsor, Walkerville and East Windsor) in 1935 brought the population to 120,000, further rendering the building inadequate. Amalgamation also brought all of the libraries into one system.\u00a0 At this time, the WPL system included eight libraries:<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sandwich Library in the former Teachers\u2019 Training School at 615 Mill Street<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Carnegie Library at Victoria and Park Streets<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 John Richardson Library (at Wilson Park), children\u2019s library only<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prince Edward Public School, Giles Blvd and Parent, children\u2019s library only<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Victoria Public School, Victoria and Ellis, children\u2019s library only<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Willistead Library, main floor of Willistead Manor<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hugh Beaton Public School (previously called South Branch), Chilver Road at Lens<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ontario Street Public School, Ontario and Ellrose<\/p>\n A lack of space forced the WPL Board to split their headquarters between Willistead and Carnegie libraries.\u00a0 The chief librarian, business office and catalogue and children\u2019s departments were housed at Willistead while Carnegie became the Chief Reference Library.\u00a0<\/p>\n Willistead had specializations within the WPL system by the 1960s: a Picture and Sculpture loan collection which netted about $80 a month in revenue for the library, and a film collection with projectors could also be rented for a nominal fee.\u00a0 The Willistead Branch even staged outdoor picture shows in the adjacent park in the summer.\u00a0 They also provided \u201cProjected Books\u201d which involved a special projector of microfilmed books that would display images of the books on the ceiling for bed-ridden customers.<\/p>\n The WPL vacated Willistead Manor soon after the Carnegie Library opened.\u00a0 Some fittings were sold off, and still exist in local Walkerville homes in the area.<\/p>\n The Windsor Public Library was too successful for its own good in terms of serving the public, and it was a complicated but well-loved working space for staff.\u00a0 Former WPL employee, Ronnie Filby began her career at the Carnegie Library and worked at that location for 10 years. She described the experience as \u201clike being in Little Women\u201d <\/i>\u2013 the Carnegie building with its books and built on rooms had \u201call sorts of places to hide, that the public couldn\u2019t see, such as attics and magazine rooms\u201d (Interview, November 9, 2012).<\/p>\n While a call for funds for a new building went out to Windsor\u2019s community leaders, librarians applied their resourcefulness to making the best of the Carnegie building, by expanding next door.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Carnegie Library (1903 – 1973) The new Carnegie Library opened in 1903.\u00a0 The two-story brick building\u2019s entrance faced Victoria Avenue and included a main reading room, a stack room where the books were shelved, and an auditorium.\u00a0 The library had a capacity for about 60,000 volumes.\u00a0 At the opening of the library, Mayor Drake had the honour of being the Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.windsorpubliclibrary.com\/engine\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1383"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.windsorpubliclibrary.com\/engine\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.windsorpubliclibrary.com\/engine\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.windsorpubliclibrary.com\/engine\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.windsorpubliclibrary.com\/engine\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1383"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"http:\/\/www.windsorpubliclibrary.com\/engine\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1383\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2126,"href":"http:\/\/www.windsorpubliclibrary.com\/engine\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1383\/revisions\/2126"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.windsorpubliclibrary.com\/engine\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1383"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Carnegie](\"http:\/\/www.windsorpubliclibrary.com\/engine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Carnegie-Historic-Plaque.gif\" "\\"Carnegie")
<\/a>By the time the WPL celebrated 50 years of its service to Windsor in 1953, the Carnegie building held 59,847 books and seating areas were reduced to provide more shelving. The lower floor had been in use as auditorium, then given over to a children\u2019s library.\u00a0 That in turn was moved out of the building to the John Richardson Branch in 1932.\u00a0 The collection of French books had been moved to the Willistead Branch in 1950.\u00a0 Over 42,942 books had been borrowed that year and the business and technical subject area was most popular.\u00a0 Head librarian Gladys Shepley confessed to the Windsor Star<\/i> that fewer books were being purchased in spite of the high demand, \u201c\u2019Windsor is so often said not to be a cultural city, yet our fine arts and business and technical [sections] are held down in size so the building will not be too overtaxed\u2019\u201d (Douglas, November 14, 1950).\u00a0<\/p>\n