History
The Amisk Public Library is the oldest registered rural library in Alberta. Wm. B. LaRue, a retired schoolteacher, opened the first library in the little hardware store he operated in Amisk on November 2, 1923. There were two shelves of 60 books, and for 10 cents a reader could borrow any number of books. Three successive owners of the hardware store carried on operating the library.
In the 1930s, a Community League was formed and one of its duties was to keep a library operating in Amisk. The library was moved from the hardware store into a
small room in the hotel lobby, then into the harness shop, and then into the post office, which was run by R.F. Chapman. When the post office moved, the library was given space in the General Store of Harrison and Barring. When the Community League offered to make space under the stage of the new Community Hall, the offer was accepted. The Sunshine Club agreed to supervise book distribution.
A new fire hall and village office was built near the highway in 1960. A room in this building was used for the library, and it remained there for 13 years, operated by the newly named Amisk Library Guild. It had a supply of over 4000 books. On February 9, 1974, the library and village office were moved to a much larger area in a new fire hall. In 1990, with the help of a government grant, the library was enlarged to its present size.
All of the Amisk school children still visit the library every week. VHS tapes and large print books are now available, and the library also has a computer and internet service. The current membership is about 140. In 2004, the Amisk Public Library joined the Parkland Regional Library System, and many more changes are expected over the coming years.
In the 1930s, a Community League was formed and one of its duties was to keep a library operating in Amisk. The library was moved from the hardware store into a
small room in the hotel lobby, then into the harness shop, and then into the post office, which was run by R.F. Chapman. When the post office moved, the library was given space in the General Store of Harrison and Barring. When the Community League offered to make space under the stage of the new Community Hall, the offer was accepted. The Sunshine Club agreed to supervise book distribution.
A new fire hall and village office was built near the highway in 1960. A room in this building was used for the library, and it remained there for 13 years, operated by the newly named Amisk Library Guild. It had a supply of over 4000 books. On February 9, 1974, the library and village office were moved to a much larger area in a new fire hall. In 1990, with the help of a government grant, the library was enlarged to its present size.
All of the Amisk school children still visit the library every week. VHS tapes and large print books are now available, and the library also has a computer and internet service. The current membership is about 140. In 2004, the Amisk Public Library joined the Parkland Regional Library System, and many more changes are expected over the coming years.
