September 3, 2026
157
What place is air-conditioned in the summer, heated in the winter, where you can go and hang out for free while sitting in a comfy chair or at a table with family or friends, or a group of like-minded people, or just go by yourself?
My love affair with the library started at a young age when I was in public school. My mother was an avid reader and checking out books from the library was a regular part of her routine. That routine included dragging a young daughter along to Richview Public Library on Islington Avenue.
What started out as, “Mom, I really don’t want to go! What will I do there," turned into “When are we going again?”
I remember the book, "Charlotte’s Web," had a profound affect on me. I also became a science fiction reading fan at a young age. I now consider myself a devoted bibliophile.
Libraries, with their cornucopia of books, open the mind to possibilities, to adventure and, of course, to learning.
My partner and I visit the Kincardine Public Library on a regular basis. Our main purpose is to check out the books. The Kincardine Library is one of the 17 branches that make up the Bruce County Public Library system. Don’t forget, there’s also the Bookmobile funded by a number of donors.
Checking out the Kincardine Public Library at 727 Queen Street
There are many local and area authors whose books are in our Canadian library system. I am a member of the Writers’ BLOC group, which penned and published a novella, "N.C.R. A Novella and Other Works," as a writing experiment in 2021. The story is set in Bruce and Grey counties and takes readers on a wild ride with unforgettable endings. You can find the book at the Bruce Country Public Library.
Books aside, the library also offers many different services ranging from black-and-white printing, photocopying, free Wi-Fi, public computers, charging stations and room rentals. I have attended unforgettable educational meetings and awesome musical events there.
There are ongoing free events for children, teens and adults, such as Story Time, Reading Clubs, and Book and Writing Club meetings, along with guest speakers on different topics.
Some libraries have a 3D printer class. I was at the library in Southampton this summer and it had a 3D printer running, making little animals. It was fascinating to watch it work. The library in Chesley had recently offered an information session on how 3D printers work and where to get free tools.
Libraries not only educate our minds to look to the future, there’s also quite a rich history stored there. Look at, for example, how libraries were created in this country.
According to The Canadian Encyclopedia, libraries in Canada started out as private collections owned by European immigrants. This was then followed by libraries being built up by religious orders, starting in the 1600s. By the 19th Century, libraries were set up in British North America and the first public libraries were established in Saint John, New Brunswick, and Guelph and Toronto, Ontario.
Apparently, the first free library was established in 1882 through an Act of the Ontario legislature. Other provinces soon followed this move.
Public libraries are governed by regional statutes and funded by municipal taxes. There are more than 150 library associations in Canada.
If you’re interested in more background on how our libraries work, there is a great general review paper, “Public Libraries in Canada: An Overview”, created by Virginia Wilson, MA, MLIS, with the University of Saskatchewan. It details information on how Canadian public libraries are structured, governed and funded.
So next time you’re in downtown Kincardine, be sure to visit your local library and let that inner bookworm squirm.
Written ByKim Dixon started her career in journalism in Manitoba, and was a writer for both non-profit and corporate clients. She writes short stories and is active with the area’s Writers' BLOC. She is also a volunteer VON fitness instructor in Kincardine. Jan. 1, 2025, she took her first polar plunge into Lake Huron.
Related Stories
No related stories.