Wooddale 1929-1979 - 50 Years

              THE W. I. AND THE LIBRARY
The lack of any library service in Rimbey was an early concern
of the Institute Women. The President, Mrs. P. Bowen at the meeting
in October, 1929, urged the members to begin thinking of the
formation of a library."
Books were donated by members and Mrs. P. Bowen was appointed
librarian. In November, 1930, she reported 18 books in the library
and also a box of books from the University Department of Extension
! for use of the Institute and the general public."
The next year 70 volumes were received from the Calgary Public
Library - a gift of discarded books, and Mrs. Bowen asked for lumber
to make a bookcase. Her request was gladly granted and the bill -
$ 6.15 ordered paid.
In September, 1934, Mrs. Sibbald took charge of the library at
meetings in Mrs. Bowen's absence, and later became our regular
librarian.
Mrs. J. P. Fairbrother made a generous donation of books and a box
of books was secured from the Lady Tweedsmuir Library.
By January, 1938, our library had grown so large that Mrs. Sibbald
and Mrs. Bowen were asked to sort the books and discard the oldest
ones. ( Should some of these have been saved for the Pas- ka- poo Museum?)
Interest in a Rimbey Library revived in the 1950' s when a local
Home and School branch was organized and showed a desire to work
towards the establishment of a town library.
An unsuccessful attempt was made to have Miss Gibson of Lacombe,
discuss possible library service for Rimbey. We wrote to Mr. Blake
MacKenzie, Coordinator of Cultural Activities for the Alberta Government,
and he advised us to send a delegation to a Rimbey Home and School
meeting where an official will discuss Regional Libraries.
From there on, our library efforts consisted of assistance to the
Home and School.
Our Roll Call at our meeting on March, 1953 was a book for the
Rimbey Library. Committees from the Institute assisted in ordering
books, and in mending donated books. In April, 1953, we made our
promised donation of $ 100.00 to the Library.
Once again, we Instituter-, were successful " instigators" and we
are proud to have taken a part in the growth of our town's cultural
development.