County of Brant Public Library
| Type | Public Library system serving the communities in the County of Brant, |
|---|---|
| Established | 1999 |
| Branches | 5 |
| Collection | |
| Items collected | books, audio/visual material, magazines, video games, electronic download collections |
| Size | 300,000+ items |
| Other information | |
| Director | Gay Kozak Selby, CEO |
| Website | County of Brant Public Library website |
The County of Brant Public Library is the public library system serving the communities in the County of Brant, Ontario, Canada. It has five branches located in Paris, Burford, Scotland, St. George, and Glen Morris. Its main website is http://www.brant.library.on.ca and its digital local history collection can be accessed at http://images.ourontario.ca/brant.
The central branch of the County of Brant system is located in Paris, Ontario. In 1999, Paris and its surrounding areas amalgamated to form the County of Brant. Before that time each community was served by its own separate library.
In 1841 Hiram Capron, founder of Paris and twenty-five residents formed the Paris Mutual Institute for the purpose of Lectures, Circulating Library and Scientific experiments. Later that year the name was changed to the Paris Mechanics’ Institute so that the organization could apply for government grants. In 1858 Paris' first public library was established when a lot located at 7 Grand River Street North in Paris was purchased from Hiram Capron for $150. The Paris library then expanded after receiving a Carnegie grant in 1902 and the new free public library was located at 12 William Street, where the library remains today. The branch was renovated and expanded again in 1995.
The Scotland-Oakland branch of the library system is located at 281 Oakland Road, Scotland, Ontario. The branch has been at its current location since March 2005. Before that time the Scotland library enjoyed a long history in its community: a small library opened its doors to the public in 1894. In 1910 the librarian sold the building to the Scotland Library Trustees for $125; the cost of a library card in 1911 was 50 cents for the first card and 25 cents for the next. By 1938 the library had a home in a white frame building with a town bell on its roof which served as a fire alarm for the residents of Scotland. On October 10, 1967 under By-law No. 844 "To Establish a Township Public Library", Scotland Library became the Oakland Township Public Library. In 1973 the Oakland Township Library purchased a house which was converted into the library and opened in 1974. Twenty years later the bell from the original building was unveiled to commemorate 100 years of library service in Scotland. When the County of Brant amalgamated in 1999 the Oakland Library joined its system; in 2005 a brand new facility was unveiled with the name Scotland-Oakland Branch.
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