The anticipation is palpable as we break into the double digits of our 125th anniversary countdown. We’re actually pretty into this whole thing, but you can feel free to read that line with whatever degree of sarcasm suits your involvement.
Fun Fact #100
As mentioned in a previous column, TPL didn’t go digital until 1991. Yes, there was the iconic, typewritten card catalogue, but there was also a great deal of handwritten labour, too, after which time it was unofficially declared that legible printing faced an uphill battle. Borrower cards, for instance, followed a strict caps/no caps policy with absolutely no exceptions to the use of a felt-tip pen. That may seem oddly specific, but it's found expressly indicated in a staff policy manual from 1977 (seemingly kept for no other reason than this). Other Niagara libraries (yes, names were named) had complained of the unreadability of inferior pens. And so in began several ongoing rivalries.
Fun Fact #99
Before TPL established itself as a free lending library in 1895, it existed as the Thorold Mechanics Institute, founded in 1858. The librarian at that time was none other than John G. Keefer. With 110 subscribing members and 320 total volumes, four British Quarterly Reviews, and Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, we figure they must had a decent amount of time for shelf reading (i.e., checking that items are in order). Though with not that many to verify, this process may have become entirely redundant. Isn't that always the way?
Fun Fact #98
In a completely unoriginal, but nonetheless enjoyable endeavour, we have begun to get staff on board with recreating historical TPL photos. The above is an obligatory pretend-to-read shot circa 1963 when the Ontario Paper Company presented the Junior Division (i.e., new kids’ section) to the community of Thorold. We’ve already called dibs on Mrs. DeLong in her kicky heels (second from left) and informed our coworker that she is welcome to chop off her hair and custom-make a suit to match one of the gentlemen. Suddenly people are not so keen on reenactments or historical accuracy.
Fun Fact #97
Hot tips on what kind of pen to use was not the only information we gleaned from the Staff Manual of ’77. On page 23/Revised (yep, it’s that long), one of the Daily Closing procedures suggested that equipment be kept “out of poking danger from vandals who could be sticking long objects through the book return to knock it off the desk." Safety still being of paramount concern, we continue to remain vigilant, re: both vandals and potential poking dangers.
Fun Fact #96
It’s official. They don’t make things like they used to. We currently house a 56-year-old children’s bookshelf prominently featured in the aforementioned department unveiling of ‘63. Doesn’t look a day over – okay, no; it definitely looks it. How come all we can think about now is giving it a really good wipe down? (shudder). Other “well-loved” furniture pieces include our current circulation desk (original to our early ‘80s move) and meeting room chairs (which we’ve so far dated as far back as the early ‘90s). Is this information terrifying? Is it nostalgic? Definitely somewhere between the two.
