On Saturday, March 29, we attended a very pleasant occasion to celebrate the centennial year of the Bracebridge Public Library.

The event had been planned and orchestrated by the library staff and by members of the library board and was open to the public as well as many invited guests.

It was officially billed as the launch of a new book capably authored by Patrick Boyer, Q.C. to commemorate 100 years of the Bracebridge Public Library. This book, illustrated with many photographs, is titled Local Library, Global Passport: The Evolution of a Carnegie Library.

CEO and chief librarian Cathryn Rodney welcomed those present and outlined the many upcoming events in celebration of the library’s centennial. Mayor Don Coates introduced the members of the library board and presented the highlights of Boyer’s career as a parliamentarian and author of 18 books.

We were treated to a lively and informative dissertation by author Patrick Boyer. He not only educated us about the founding and continuing evolution of our library, but also told us about the many people responsible for its existence. This, of course, included interesting and historical insight into Andrew Carnegie, the philanthropist who helped fund the building of our library.

Boyer also referred to many early settlers and council members, some of whose descendants were in the audience. Boyer himself has three generations of his family involved with the library. His grandfather George Boyer promoted the idea of a “free library” as early as the 1890s. Boyer’s parents, Patricia and Robert J. Boyer were enthusiastic supporters of the library and have sections of the present library named in their honour. The attractive book was available for sale and the author graciously autographed the many copies purchased.

There was a time for socializing following the official part of the afternoon and we were treated to a buffet of refreshments capably served by the library staff and members of the library board.

On behalf of all those in attendance I would like to say thank you to all involved. If this event is any indication of the quality of those events to follow, we would recommend that we all plan to be a part of them as well.

Congratulations to Patrick Boyer on his authorship of such a significant book and to our library “Happy 100th”. With such an illustrious past and an active present, we look forward to an expanded presence for our library in this community.

Jim and Thelma Marrin

Bracebridge