History of the Library

1943 - The idea of a reading room being offered as a service to the public was introduced by the Grimshaw Women's Institute.

• The library started in the lumber yard and later moved into the office upstairs in Geyer's Store.
• During WWII the building was needed for other purposed and the library was disbanded.

1953 - The WI once again decided to start a library. - Certificate of Incorporation Feb 2, 1953

• The first location was at the back of Roy's Propane Service.
• Books that were donated and discards from the Edmonton Public Library started the collection.
• The WI and high school student volunteers ran the library.

1956 - Roy's Propane Service closed leaving the WI to find a new location for their collection.

1957 - The WI purchased a small building for $400.00; Town Council provided the site, power and lights.

1961 - The library was moved into a larger building 4' by 40' but soon outgrew that as well.

1971 - After 10 years of growth the library was moved downstairs at the Town Office.

• The responsibility of the library moved from the WI to the Town of Grimshaw.

1982 - Municipal Bylaw #663 was passed on March 29, 1982. The library became the Town of Grimshaw Library Board.

1984 - The library relocated to a shared building with the Elks Hall

1985 - Town council passed a resolution in support of the Peace Region Co-operative Library Project.

1986 - Town of Grimshaw became the first community to sign the Peace Library System agreement.

1993 - An informal Friends of the Library group was formed.

1996 - The library again found itself in need of additional space; Friends of the Library began fundraising.

1998 - The library first offered internet services.

2001 - Records were automated, joining the library with other Peace Library System libraries.

• The sharing of resources had begun.
• The Friends of the Library supplied funding to expand the library to 298.5 squared meters.

2004 - Along with Peace Library System the library joined TRAC online catalogue.

• The Regional Automation Consortium (TRAC) joins 4 library systems.
• Interlibrary loan system in place to share 2 million bibliographic holdings.

2017 - The Library moved to its current location, adjacent to the Mile Zero Regional Multiplex and the Grimshaw Shared Schools Facility.

• Began providing library services to the two school divisions while maintaining its role as a busy municipal library.