Lethbridge living Magazine

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Do you know what this object is and what it was used for?

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Black and white postcard showing the back of the Lethbridge Public Library at its original location on 3rd Avenue South, ca.1920 -1930.  Galt Museum & Archives, 19841062003.

In 1910, several Lethbridge residents wrote letters to the editor and held meetings to express support for the establishment of a library. In 1911, Lethbridge City Council passed a bylaw for provision of a library to be known as the Lethbridge Public Library.

It was not until August 1919 that a library opened at the former location of the YMCA at 10 Street and 4 Avenue South. The first library board consisted of W. J. Nelson (Chair), H. W. Meech, and Rev. C. E. Cragg, and the first librarians were A. N. Filmer, L. McIndoe and Arthur Frayne.

The first specifically created building – located in Galt Gardens and referred to as a Carnegie Library — opened on 23 January 1922 at a construction cost of $26,996. It consisted of a children's library, adult library, and lecture room.  The Southern Alberta Art Gallery has occupied this building since 1976.

A Carnegie library is a library built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. More than 2,500 Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929 in the United States, Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Serbia, the Caribbean and Fiji.

After World War II, an increase in patronage to the library resulted a period of growth. In 1951, an extension was built on to the Carnegie Library. Separate branches were then built on the northside (1956) and southside of Lethbridge (1961).  This growth culminated with the opening of the building that currently houses the library on 9 Street and 5 Avenue South in 1974, which amalgamated the services from the three previous locations.

Presented by Lethbridge living and the Galt Museum & Archives.

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  1. Sharon Allred makes this comment

    Sunday, 18 April 2010

    It is the SAAG (Southern Alberta Art Gallery) building that is now being renovated. It is located in Galt Gardens on the south end of the park.

  2. Janet Harris Mauza makes this comment

    Friday, 16 April 2010

    This photo appears to be the back of the Lethbridge Public Library on 3rd Ave and 6th Street, on the south end of Galt Gardens. The front of the library had steps from the street to the front door, then steps inside to upper floor, childrens library was on lower floor. It looks like a doorway to another building on the lower left side of picture, which might possibly be commercial building across 3rd Ave, possibly Hoyt's Hardware. Upper windows on the front of the building had the half arched windows with a rectangular window, all as one taller window.

  3. Mitch Bazant makes this comment

    Saturday, 10 April 2010

    It looks to me like the original Galt Hospital that had burned down, Isn't the remnant wall still there? just south of the existing Galt Museum & Expansion? I helped work on the expansion, and walked past this structure daily, back in 2005/'06. Since I read the postings above, I may be wrong...

  4. Mei-Huey Jeannie Chang makes this comment

    Sunday, 14 March 2010

    It is Original RED CROSS building.

  5. Rex Senneker makes this comment

    Saturday, 13 March 2010

    It is the building that sits in Galt gardens on third ave, the Photo is taken from the center of the park looking south

  6. Carla (Currie) Samuels makes this comment

    Wednesday, 10 March 2010

    It's the old public library. In 1960 I sat on the front steps (not in this photo) and read my first library book; Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess.

  7. Kelly Huchala makes this comment

    Monday, 08 March 2010

    It is the Childrens wing of the old public library,,,I remember going there as a little girl,,,,it was such a unique building,,,,that picture brings back many fun memories!!

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