Last Updated: October 23, 2008
History of Our Library
The earliest Govan Library was very simple. The White Heather Homemakers Club gathered a number of books and kept them in the home of a member in town. We note that it was in Mrs. Puffer's home in 1915, although others housed it at times.
When Dr. Welch left, the library was placed in the long, narrow room which had been his waiting room. Mrs. White used three other rooms as living quarters and looked after both the Rest Room and the Library.
helped build up quite a library of at least 1100 books. Mrs. Currie was largely responsible for getting a real library going. Fees were 5 cents per book, which, along with donations of books from individuals.
Members of the club took turns supervising its operations. They were lucky to receive a large number of excellent books from a Lady Tweedsmuir collection. Unfortunately, many of the best were "permanently borrowed", when the books had to be stored over Dickey's store and the people living up there let others have them without authorization, through no fault of the Dickey's, of course.
A great improvement came in 1960, when some of the books were moved into the basement rooms of the Health Centre. Mrs. Olive Kelln became our librarian, and the library became part of the Parkland Regional Library system. Story time was begun for the pre-school children, and still continues.
After three years, Mrs. Kelln resigned and Mrs. Myrtle Puffer became our very efficient and popular custodian. But, although we had the use of three small rooms, conditions ere very crowded. So, when the Municipal Office was moved in 1974, to its new building on the corner of Elgin and Railway Ave., the library fell heir to its quarters. What an improvement it was! Many shelves and paperback racks were supplied, allowing room to display any special volumes, clippings, or pictures. There is also a separate room for young people's books, with a long table at which they can take notes or examine books, tapes, cassettes, and records can now be borrowed, also.
An added feature of a Regional Library is the order service, where one can request books for reference or just interest. All library services are free, the cost being covered by the town and rural municipalities. We are indeed fortunate.
**The above was taken from our history book, "The Last Mountain Echoes."**
Since the beginning of our library we have had only a few more librarians. Mrs. Marg Roland was librarian from approximately 1981 to 1989, Henrietta Hilderman from approximately 1989 to 1992 , Gloria Davis from 1992 to 2004, Tracy Brown from March 2004 to July 2005, Roberta Orban from August 2005 to May 2007; and now Sarah Angell from June 2007 to present.
Sarah Angell-Librarian,
Govan #30 - Parkland Regional Library
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