In 1896, a meeting of the citizens of Coldwater was called by notice for December 15^th in the Village Hall for the purpose of forming a Public Library and reading room. Mr. W.J. Leatherdale chaired the meeting and the Rev. J.H. Sheppard was asked to act as secretary. The secretary was authorized to apply for Incorporation by petition as required by law. Two months later, all was in order and on February 15^th, 1897 a board of nine members was chosen. All were men, namely, H.L. Lovering, J.H. Sheppard, P.R. Hall, W.J. Lovering, W.H. Manning, H.S. French, C.G. Millard, W.J. Leatherdale and S.D. Eplett St. Mr. H.L. Lovering was elected President, and Rev. J.H. Sheppard secretary. In October, a woman was engaged to take care of the library rooms at $1.50 per month, scrubbing to be extra.

By 1927, the board consisted of two men and nine women. (query – Did the men find out how much work was involved?) The President was Mr. Howard Gover, Vice-President, Mrs. C.M. Robinson, Secretary / Treasurer was Mrs. John Woodrow, Mrs. Harry Porch was Librarian, salary $30.00 per year.

The first library rooms were housed in the Eplett Block on Coldwater Main Street with board meetings giving their time. In 1930, Mrs. C.M. Robinson, Mrs. M. Milton, Mrs. C.G. Millard and Mrs. W.J. Sheppard, Jr, acted as Librarians. Later the library was moved to the Anglican church hall. In 1936 it is recorded that Helen Walker appointed Librarian at 25 cents per week to be paid weekly. Library hours were Wednesdays 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm and Saturday evenings.

In 1937, the present attractive stone library building, and library grounds were donated in memory of William Joseph Sheppard and his wife Ellen Mary Buchanan by their children. Outside contractors did much of the building, but the stone work was done by the late George Wilson. Mr. R.S. Sheppard arranged for the furnishings. The building was officially opened in 1938, and the first book was taken out by Douglas Miller, then a young boy. Mr. G.S. McCrae, editor of the Coldwater News, was President of the board, Miss Ethel Robinson was librarian and secretary with Miss Helen Walker, Assistant.

As an Association Library it was dependent on small grants from government and village council plus private donations, and $1 membership fees from adults, 10 cents fees from children, yearly. The shortage of funds became acute so in December 1949 the board presented a petition to the village council requesting it to submit to the municipal electors at the forthcoming election a by-law for the establishment of a free public library. An energetic board worked hard and the by-law passed. John Tipping became President, Dorothy Pheasant, Librarian.

With more money from grants, more books were purchased. In 1950 the circulation was double that of 1949 and five times that of 1948. In 1952, Coldwater’s circulation of Simcoe County books came second among 19 libraries and 14 deposit stations. The previous year Coldwater’s circulation per capita was higher than that of the American Library that had the highest per capita circulation in the USA. The past year’s total was 11,472

Some well-known visitors have signed our guest book. These include the late Angus Mowat, Provincial Director of Public Libraries, Lord and Lady Alexander of Tunis, Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent and his wife, Ray Dudley, Canadian pianist, and Lady Eaton.

Through the years many devoted people worked diligently to promote and maintain library services in the village and many more names will be recorded for our heritage corner and the village archives than has been possible to included here.