The first
Dorchester Library Board was formed in September 1897. Some
funds were raised from subscriptions and membership fees, and
the Board borrowed enough extra money to make up $200 to buy the
first lot of books. The library, located in either the Community
Hall or the home of the librarian (records are unclear), opened
at the end of October.
July 1948 saw the
official opening of the library in the Community Hall. In 1964
the library was moved again, to a bright and cheerful room@
at 20 Catherine Street. The new quarters were in the lower
floor of what was intended to be a medical-dental building.
However, there were problems with flooding over the years. In
February 1974 water two to three inches deep damaged 360 books.
The
library moved to 2500 square foot quarters in the new North
Dorchester Community Centre in November 1976. In 1999 long-time
Dorchester resident, Don Cromarty, donated land for the current
library building, which was officially opened in April 2001.
