Mission & History - Thompson Public Library

It is the mission of the Thompson Public Library, through the provision of informational, educational, cultural, and recreational library materials and services, to ensure the right to free and open community access to diverse information and ideas fundamental to a democracy.

1. Services that result in library use and involvement from the broadest possible spectrum of residents, regardless of ethnic background, educational level, economic status or physical condition.

3. Collections of enduring value and contemporary interest that are relevant to user needs.

4. A highly trained and competent staff that works together to provide responsive service to all users.

5. Appropriate technology to extend, expand, and enhance services to ensure that all users have equitable access to information.

7. Careful stewardship of the public trust, which ensures accountability and makes the most efficient use of funds.

All persons in Canada have the fundamental rights, as embodied in the nation's Bill of Rights and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, to have access to all expression of knowledge, creativity and intellectual activity, and to express their thoughts publicly. This right to intellectual freedom, under law, is essential to the health and development of Canadian Society.

Libraries have a basic responsibility for the development and maintenance of intellectual freedom.

It is the responsibility of libraries to guarantee and facilitate access to all expressions of knowledge and intellectual activity, including those which some elements of society may consider to be unconventional, unpopular or unacceptable. To this end, libraries shall acquire and make available the widest variety of materials.

It is the responsibility of libraries to guarantee the right of free expression by making available all the library's public facilities and services to all individuals and groups who need them.

Libraries should resist all efforts to limit the exercise of these responsibilities while recognizing the right of criticism by individuals and groups.

Both employees and employers in a library have a duty, in addition to their institutional responsibilities, to uphold these principals.

Thompson Public Library, presently located at its current location at 81 Thompson Drive North, has been through many changes since it was first opened in No. 1 School (Now Juniper School) on February 28, 1962. The library was originally the project of the Thompson Ladies' Community Club, which was itself an offshoot of the Thompson Ladies' Bridge Club formed in March of 1959. Both the Thompson Ladies' Bridge Club and the Thompson Ladies' Community Club provided a combination of community service and social activities for their members. The women organized fashion shows on an annual basis, raised money to bring a traveling dental clinic to town, canvassed for the Red Cross and the CNIB, sponsored an art show, played bridge, and sewed for the hospital.

In October of 1960, the Book Club section of the Thompson Ladies' Bridge Club proposed that "books could be obtained from the University of Manitoba Extension Library and that perhaps a book exchange could be set up'. Although many members of the Club were interested, it was decided that this suggestion cannot be carried out at present owing to lack of space. In the fall of 1961, the Thompson Ladies' Community Club, after having sparse attendance at a number of regular meetings, called an emergency general meeting, on November 14 1961, to decide the future of the Club. A decision was made to continue to operate for at least one more year. As well, the establishment of a lending library was chosen as the new project for the club. Mrs. Peggy Henderson and Miss Norah Stewart were selected as library conveners.

Permission was obtained from C.A. Nesbitt, Administrator of the Local Government District of Mystery Lake, to use space in No. 1 School for the library. Donations of books were obtained from citizens of Thompson, and by opening day, February 28, 1962 the library boasted a collection of over 500 donated books, supplemented by another 200 on three month loan from University Extension Services. An opening tea was held to celebrate the event, and admission to this tea could only be gained upon presentation of a book for the new library or a donation to the silver collection. The Thompson Ladies' Community Club donated $370 from its funds to be used to purchase more books and supplies for the library. The Club also hosted a number of events, such as an evening of dessert, bridge and an art exhibition, to raise money for the new library. It was found that while there were adequate numbers of books to appeal to adults and to children, there were very few books which would appeal to teen-age readers. To ease this situation, much of the money donated to the new library was used to purchase books for the teen-age readers.

The Nickel Belt News, in May of 1962, undertook a special project to help the teen-age reader, as well. Businesses and citizens were approached for donations. The Nickel Belt News then published the names of all who had donated to the fund in a two page advertisement in the paper. The fund was then used to buy books suitable for teen-agers, and all donors had their name, or their business' name placed in front of these books. With such community support as this, the library grew at such a rate that in November 1963 there were 3500 books in the collection and 532 members on the membership lists. Thirty volunteers spent their spare time keeping the library running smoothly. However, it was obvious that new, larger facilities were desperately needed. The possibility of obtaining provincial government grants to finance a new building was investigated. However, it was discovered that there was no possibility of provincial government assistance until such time as Thompson was incorporated as a town, and had duly elected officials. At that time Thompson was part of the the Local Government District of Mystery Lake, and all officials were appointed.

In 1964, a Centennial Committee, consisting of Mr. Arne Sorenson, Mr. H.W. Peterson, Mr. D. Crummey, Mrs. Palmer Nesbitt, Mrs. D. Munn, Mr. C.A. Nesbitt, Mr. W. Beketa, and Mr. and Mrs Don Morgan, was formed to present to the Manitoba Centennial Corporation, a proposal to celebrate Canada's Centennial. In December 1965, approval was given for a grant of $6898 towards a Centennial project in Thompson. This figure was based on a grant of $1.00 per capita from each of the federal and provincial governments. Unfortunately, the calculation was based on the 1961 federal census, which at 3500 people, did not include the Inco campsite, and did not take into consideration the fact that the population had grown , in the intervening four years, to 8500. Thus, while the committee had been counting on a grant of $20,000 they ended up with less than $7000. Letters to the governments involved, petitions, and phone calls produced no results, so the committee was forced to work with the $7000.

Once the funds were secured, the committee had to make a final decision on the Centennial project. Three different proposals; a recreation building, a swimming pool, and a library, had popular support. After consulting with various organizations and individuals, and conducting a poll through the local newspaper, the library was chosen. The recreation building was rejected as plans were already underway by another group to bring in a recreation centre. The swimming pool was rejected because at $200,000 it would be too expensive. As well, it was considered that the ongoing costs of maintenance and staffing would place too large a burden on the Thompson residents. The library was approved as the Thompson Centennial Project, because at $44,000, it could be financed through the Centennial grant and a municipal levy. As well, provincial government grants for libraries would be available to help finance the operating expenses of the library.

On June 17 1966, the residents of Thompson voted in favour of a library by-law, which made the library eligible for government grants and provided for up to one mill per year to be levied on municipal taxes to support the library. This meant that the building of the library could now proceed. The contract was let to Malcolm Construction in the fall of 1966. By this time, costs had risen and the revised estimate of the building was $72,000. it was estimated that the construction would take four to six months. The new building was opened to the public on August 21, 1967, with the Official Opening taking place on September 22, 1967. In its first year of operation in the new building, the library was given an initial establishment grant of $200 by the provincial government. This was far from sufficient to cover furnishing the new building. Instead, the Library Board relied on donations from community organizations, such as the Kinsmen and the Kinettes, who donated $5,000 to provide furnishings.

The first Library Board, appointed by the Provincial Government in January, 1967, and chaired by Mrs. Greta Munn, had Mrs. J.R. Hawkins, Mrs. D. Henderson, Mr. H. Petersson, Miss, M. Wilkie, Mr. Fred Price, and Mrs. Liske as members. Mr. Peterson resigned from the Board in June 1967 and was replaced by Mr. T. Norquay. On May 1, 1968, the first paid staff members were hired. Mrs. Peggy Henderson was hired as Library Administrator and Mrs. Brina Hellrung, Mrs. Rowena McDougal, and Mrs. Ferelith Thornborough were hired as Library Assistants. The library continued to grow. By 1973, the budget had increased from $13,710 spent in 1968 to $42,600 of which $12,000 was spent on books compared to $1600 in 1968. As well, adult circulation was up to 62,950 items.

With a library designed to serve a population of 8,000, serving a population of 21,000, problems with space soon developed in the mid 1970s. Even with the children's section moved to the basement, there was simply no room for new material son the shelves, shelving unites covered ever spare foot of floor space, and the library typist had to work in the children's section because the combination work room/staff room/office was overcrowded. Expansion was necessary. In May 1976, the Library Board, chaired by Mrs. Faye Hansen, met with the Thompson City Council and discussed the need for more space. A proposal that the library be relocated to the former Headframe nightclub building was rejected by both parties, and it was agreed that the best solution would be to build an addition to the present building and increase the floor space from 4,460 square feet to 10,000 square feet. In late 1976, approval was given by Thompson City Council for the Library Board to hire an engineer or architect to prepare preliminary plans and estimates for the addition. Number 10 Architectural group of Winnipeg was hired. In early, 1978, tenders were called for the project, and Malcolm Construction of Thompson submitted the lowest bid of $456,362. City Council was called upon to approve the Malcom bid, but the vote ended in a tie with four aldermen feeling that the library expansion should proceed immediately, and four aldermen feeling that the city should show restraint, especially considering the city's uncertain economic outlook. Mayor Don McLean broke the tie and cast his vote in favour of approving the Malcom bid.

Work began in May 1978 and by the end of November, the new addition was sufficiently complete that the staff members were able to begin transferring books to the new area. However, completion of the renovations to the original building did not take place until early in 1979. The official opening of the new building took place on September 21, 1979. Mrs Greta Munn, chairman of the first Library Board, was a special guest. other dignitaries included Ken MacMaster, M.L.A., Mayor Don McLean, Mrs Myrtle Lorimer, President of the Manitoba Library Trustees Association, D.G. Malcolm of Malcolm Construction and Gordon McGarva of Number 10 Architectural Group.