Russell Library
History of the Library Part I
From the book – Banner County History of Russell & District 1879 – 1967
The Russell & District Regional Library – by Mrs. Ruby Coulter
For many years previous to the Second World War, Russell enjoyed a small library, owned and operated by the W0- men’s Institute. Books were entirely fiction and almost entirely adult. Due to the outbreak of World War 2 readers interests were diverted to war efforts and the library was dissolved.
However, a continual desire by individuals and later the Councils, for a Regional Library, encouraged the Women’s Institute to make an effort for its establishment. A petition was circulated (by the W.I.) in the town and municipality of Russell, duly presented to the Councils and a. favorable vote was taken. A by-law by Councils provided for its establishment.
The first Library Board was appointed in the fall of 1957 and consisted of the following members; Mrs. T. A. Kieper, Chairman; Mrs. C. Cusitar; Mr. J. Schwalm, Councillor; Mrs. E. C. San- derson; Mr. J. A. Burgess, Mayor; Mrs. Ross Kieper, Sea-Trees. Mrs. Ruby E. Coulter was engaged as librarian and continues as such at the time of writing, January, 1966.
The large room at the rear of the Town Office on Pelly Avenue was fitted with shelves and the necessary library furnishings, and on May 31st, 1958, our library was officially opened.
Our book stock at that time consisted of 1,450 books. In December, 1965 our stock has grown to 7,500 books and we find our present quarters quite inadequate. Plans are well on the way for a new library building which will be situated on Main Street, North. This building will be the Centennial Project for the town and rural municipality of Russell and should be completed early in 1967.
History of the Library Part II
From the book – A Walk Back in Time: Russell and Area – Town and Country Histories
The Russell & District Regional Library by Nettie Wileman
The original library, previous to the Second World War, was operated by the Women’s Institute. During the war years, the library was dissolved, however, it was re-established in 1957, once again due to the efforts of the W.I. and located in the large room at the rear of the then Town Office on Pelly Ave. This building has since been demolished and in 1967 a new building was built on Main Street and is the present home of the library. In February of 1963 a branch of the Russell Library was formed at Binscarth.
In 1957 the funding for the library consisted of per capita contributions from the Provincial Government, the Town of Russell, the Rural Municipality of Russell and membership fees. The first board members as taken from the minutes of January, 1958 meeting were: Mrs. Cliff (Anne) Cusitar –Mrs. Tom (Esther) Kieper – Mr. John Schwalm – Councilor – R.M. of Russell Mrs. E.C. (Rhoda) Sanderson – Mrs. Wilda (Spike) Kieper – and Mr. Jim Burgess – Mayor – Town of Russell. Mrs. Esther Kieper was elected as chairman and Mrs. Wilda Kieper as the secretary-treasurer., Mrs. Ruby Coulter was hired as librarian. It is interesting to note that the budget for 1959 was $5,100.00 and in 2007 the budget has risen to $86,089.00. Also at that time the red chairs that are still in use today were purchased from Globe Bedding in Winnipeg at a cost of $32.00 per chair.
In 1962 the Village of Binscarth wrote enquiring about setting up a branch of the library in Binscarth and in February of 1963, representatives Ted Moulson and Maureen Schwanke attended a board meeting and informed them that they had received an establishment grant of $2000.00 from the provincial government. Eventually the old telephone office in Binscarth was renovated at a cost of $1,800.00 and is still the home of the branch library. Councilors and Board Members that have served over the year are, Ted Moulson, Maureen Schwanke, Fanny Patton, Walter Hutton, Charles Souch, Ed Slywchuck, Art Willis, Conrad Ireland, Marion Boucher, Helen Woodhouse, Ida Cooper, Gayle Johnson, Frances Hutton, Peggy Bradshaw, Rick Melynk and staff members Gertrude Matheson, Sarah Plumb, Ruth Rogers, Doris Barrett, Bonnie Woodhouse and Ruth Illingworth.
In 1965 it was decided that a new building was needed in Russell as the old one was running short of space and so Gordon Rutar of Rutar Construction was asked to prepare a sketch (at a cost of $15.00) of a proposed building for the provincial government with the building cost estimated at $25,000.00. Construction of the building on Main Street started in 1966 and the final cost with an unfinished basement was $28,000.00. The official opening of the new Centennial Library was held on October 13, 1967 with board members Jim Burgess, Elsie Williams and Lillian Brownlee (Town of Russell), Councilor Frank Bily and Ann Chandler (R.M. of Russell), Walter Hutton, Councilor, and Mrs. A. Graham (Village of Binscarth) and various dignitaries in attendance.
In 1968 Russell Library hosted the Manitoba Library Association convention which was held in the Memorial Hall on Main St. – the luncheon cost for the delegates for a turkey plate dinner was $1.75 per plate and paid for by the Town of Russell. In 1969 the parcel post deposit was purchased from the Post Office for $10.00 (still in use today) and a total of $3,137.00 was paid out to finish the basement,
In 1973 the Board accepted with regret the resignation of dedicated librarian Ruby Coulter and a retirement dinner was held at the Russell Inn where she was presented with a gift of appreciation for her years of service. Spike Kieper was then hired as head librarian, and Agnes Burgess as assistant librarian. In 1977 the first Summer Student was hired through the “Young Canada Works” program and this has been an ongoing practice today. Students are hired to run the summer reading program as well as helping out in the library. In 1978 Spike Kieper, after 20 years as a staff member resigned and a supper in her honor was held in the Dell Room, with board and staff members present.
In March of 1982 the R.M. of Silver Creek joined the regional library with Councilor Mervyn Dunn, and members Laura Coulter and Debbie Syntynsky appointed to board. The proposed budget was also brought forward and now had risen to $25,335.00.
The years of 1983 and l984 saw, also with regret, the resignations of Agnes Burgess and Chairman Jim Burgess. In 1985 a commerative plaque was purchase honoring Jim and/or others for dedicated service and “In Memoriam” donations which is on display in the library. The Jim Burgess Memorial Bursary in the amount of $100.00 – to be presented annually to a graduate of Major Pratt Collegiate who will be continuing in post secondary education – the criteria would be based on interest, appreciation and achievement in the field of literature with the recipient to be chosen by the teachers of Major Pratt. This bursary has been presented annually at the graduation exercises by the chairman, a board member of the library or school staff.
Over the course of time, the library has seen many different events and changes. As mentioned previously, a summer student has been employed to oversee the summer reading program where children are encouraged to borrow books and take part in the story hour with prizes awarded for participation. A book rotation with the town of Minnedosa and surrounding libraries took place for many years, but eventually was stopped as there was so much repetition of materials. A local art group used the basement for art classes for local artists and they put on a display of their art work in conjunction with Beef and Barley weekend.
In 1992 a Tea was held to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the new library with board members hosting the event. Many enjoyed refreshments and a tour of the building. In l993 a quilt display was held in the basement with many local quilters showing their talents. A quilt donated by Mrs. Stella Pushka of Angusville was raffled off with the proceeds going towards purchasing of books. The local Thrift Shop also donates a generous amount every year to the library for the purchase of large print books which are very popular with the seniors. Another fund raiser was a lovely quilt made by some board members and volunteers and sewn at the home of Louise Spurway who kindly donated her living room for this. The library staff also put together a Christmas and Easter Basket every year and sell tickets on it for fund raising. All donations go towards the purchase of books and materials.
In 1995 the Provincial Government advised all libraries in Manitoba that there were grants available towards computerization so that everyone would be on the internet, making it easier to order books for patrons, as well as saving a lot of time for library staff as the computer keeps track of all transactions. The job proved to be a bit more time consuming than was anticipated, but librarians, Florence Pushka, Louise Sidoryk and Carol Clement along with board members and volunteers they managed to enter all the books and materials in the computer. It has been a mixed blessing at times – it saved a lot of hand-writing, but when the power or the computer failed, everything had to be recorded by hand and entered later. Over the years repairs and renovations have taken place – new counters were installed, the basement has been renovated, making it much brighter and user friendly with new shelving installed as space upstairs was becoming crowded.
In the past 50 years since its inception there have been many changes to the Library. Our collection of books and materials as well as the circulation has grown enormously, and there are now computers in place for public use, with training available through the CAP program. The community owes a debt of gratitude to the many people who have dedicated their time and efforts as board members, staff, volunteers and donors, making the library a place to be proud of in our community.
History of the Library Part III
In 2014, the hopes of expanding the library began in earnest. With grants and funding being looked in to, ideas on what we would like to see in an improved library space, and community input. In 2016 we really dug in our fingers and working with the Prairie Arts cARTel and the Beth Naylor clothing group plans were put in place. Our fundraising included a garage sale, a chili bowl / magician night, movie nights, A Big Daddy Tazz Comedy Night, and local community donations, just to name a few. We also received numerous grants and funds including a Canada 150 Infrastructure Grant, The Thomas Sill Foundation, The Russell Elks, Enabling Accessibility, and the Living Legacy Community Foundation.
We moved from our regular location in March of 2017 into the empty Credit Union Building near the post office. We remained in that location until March of 2018, when we returned home.
In 2021 we added a brick patio area to the green space between the library and the Russell Multiplex.
Binscarth Library
From the book – Binscarth Memories 1984
The Binscarth Library by Ruth Rogers
The first record of a Library in Binscarth is 1931, looked after by the Women’s Institute. Forty books were purchased from the Russell Women’s Institute for $3.50 for the library. Tea was served on Saturdays. In June 1949 Mrs. Arbuckle became Librarian. Crescent Ridge Farm Forum had a travelling library made up of 50 books. In 1963 the Town of Binscarth joined the Russell Regional Library. Mrs. Gert Matheson was librarian in a small building where the Westview Lodge is located. In March 1973 the library was moved to new quarters, formerly the telephone office with Gert Matheson still in charge. She passed away in 1974 and Mrs. Sarah Plumb took her place until 1979. Mrs. Ruth Rogers is present librarian.
From the book – Binscarth Memories Volume II (2018)
The Binscarth Library joined the Russell Library in 1963, with Gert (Arbuckle) Matheson working as librarian until her death in 1974. The original library was located in a small building near the present Westview Lodge on 2nds Avenue.
In 1972, renovations of about $2,000 where made to the Manitoba Telephone System building (build in 1945) and the library was moved there in 1973.
In 1974, Sarah Plumb was hired as librarian at a salary of $157 per month. In 1979, Ruth Rogers was hired at a salary of $230 per month. Doris Barrett was librarian from 1990 until the end of 1999. Bonnie Woodhouse became librarian to start the year 2000 and worked until 2005, when Ruth (Murdock) Illingworth took on the position.
The residents of Binscarth are proud of their library. In recent years, renovations have included a new entrance door, windows, shingles and a furnace. New steps have been built and a railing was installed; the walls have been painted a welcoming blue.
As of 2018, the Binscarth Library continues to operate two afternoons a week for the enjoyment of local readers.