Photocopy of an article from the May 18, 1993 issue of the Era Banner, about historical walking tours hosted by the Friends of the Library to raise money for the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library. The photocopy includes some parts of the surrounding page.

Article text:
"The Friends of the Library will hold a walking tour through history this month in order to help raise money for the library.
Even though Bradford West Gwillimbury's public library is down on its financial luck this year, it still has some good friends.
Town council has cut the library's proposed operating budget by $75,000, but the Friends of the Library hope to gain increased support for the facility.
On June 5, the group hosts two historical walking tours in town. The tours begin at 10:30a.m. outside the library and cost $1 for adults and 50 cents for children age five and older. The walks will cover 30 points of interest and are expected to last one hour.
One well-known stop will be the town hall at 61 Holland St. E., which was built in 1862. Over the years, it has served as a school house and a community centre.
Today's community centre at 125 Simcoe rd. is the youngest building features [sic] on the tour. It was built in 1956.
The town's oldest building is the former Edmundson Hotel at the corner of Nelson Street and Holland Street East. It was constructed in 1831 and is now a private residence.
Other major attractions include the railway station on Hwy. 11, constructed in 1900 and visited by Bob Hope in the 1930s, and Bradford Quality Meats, which has operated as a local butcher shop since it was built in the 1840s.
The library board's liaison to the group, Lesley Coo, says the walk is a fitting way to raise funds for the library.
'The tour is an appropriate project because the library has a history room and a collection. Our town has a very rich history,' she says.
Organizers hope the tour will raise $500 toward the library's automation efforts. Each day, more than 400 books are manually checked out.
Over the past five years, circulation has increased by 33 percent.
The board is now considering closing the Bradford Public Library two days a week to get the automation in place. Program cancellations and the closure of the Bond Head branch are also being considered as possible cost-cutting measures.
In the days following the tour, the Friends of the Library will be selling memberships to the group. A one-year membership is available for a minimum donation of $10 and lifetime memberships are $100. They can be purchased at the library, 100 Holland Crt."

Photocopy of a newspaper article from the Era Banner about Friends of the Library fundraising. The photocopy includes some parts of the surrounding page. Includes a handwritten edit in pencil, circling "400 BOOKS" and writing "788" next to it.

Article text:
"Library group says public awareness pays off
This summer, the Friends of the Library group is having its most successful fundraising season ever.
Since May, it has taken in close to $2,000 through its membership drive, private donations, its historical walking tour and a barbecue at Compton's IGA.
By selling pop, hotdogs and sausages in front of the store Saturday, the group raised $125.
Organizer Lesley Coo says the group's persistence is paying off.
'We're doing well, but then again, we've been at it for a while. We're very pleased with the support we've received through donations and new memberships and we think that's a result of increased public awareness about our lack of funding and the need to raise money,' she said.
Thirty raffle tickets were sold at the barbecue and a draw for three items totally close to $500 will be held Oct. 23.
First prize is a handmade twin size quilt, second prize is an afghan and third prize, a cross-stitch sampler. Tickets are $1 and can be purchased at the library.
The draw will take place in conjunction with one of the group's upcoming fundraisers, a book sale at the library.
MURDER MYSTERY
Earlier that month, Oct. 1, the Friends of the Library will be presenting another murder mystery night at the library. Tickets are $15 per person and $25 a couple and will be available in September.
The group is also already planning for the Yuletide season and has set a date for its pre-Christmas Arts and Crafts Show and Sale.
It will take place Nov. 5 and 6 at the library.
All money raised will be used to help move the facility toward automation.
400 BOOKS
During busy periods, as many as 400 books are manually checked out in a day.
The library's proposed operating costs were cut by $75,000 in this year's municipal budget, leaving it unable to hire extra staff to prepare for the conversion.
As a result the library will be closed Mondays and Fridays this year to get ready for the changes."

Photocopy of an article in the June 8, 1993 issue of the Era about a fundraiser by the Bradford Public Library Friends of the Library. Handwriting in pencil identifies the newspaper issue. A couple of words are hidden with white-out.

The article includes a photograph of the tour with a caption that reads: "AMIE PLOURDE, 15, of Holy Trinity School, was one of the tour guides for the Friends of the Library's historical walking tour Saturday in Bradford. She explains the history of the Bradford Meat Market, which used to be a bakery in 1871."

Article text:
"Efforts to move the Bradford Public Library toward automation hit a little stumbling block on the weekend as bad weather dampened public response to a fundraiser.
While the Friends of the Library expected hundreds of residents to turn out for the historical walking tour, co-ordinated to raise money for library services, only 25 braved Saturday's rain and cold temperatures.
Despite Mother Nature's lack of support, [white out] Lesley Coo says the event was a success.
'Considering the terrible weather, we were very pleased with the turnout we received and we're hoping that more of the community will now support our other events this year,' she said.
Combined with eight tours for local primary school children last week, the event raised $130.
'I think everyone really enjoyed the tour and was appreciative that we went ahead with it,' she said.
The tour highlighted 30 buildings dating back as far as 1831. Special points of interest included the town hall, the railway station and the community centre. Admission was $1 for adults and 50 cents for children.
The group's gearing up for a giant fundraising barbecue to be held at the IGA later this summer and a mystery night at the library Oct. 1.
Use of the library has increased by 30 percent in the past five years, with as many as 400 books manually checked out each day. The library board is anxious to see the implementation of a new computerized system by late next spring.
The board has applied to the province for a grant to fund 65 per cent of the project's cost, but it still needs to raise $35,000. The facility's proposed operating costs were cut by nearly $75,000 in this year's municipal budget.
Membership to the Friends of the Library will be on sale at the library all this week, 100 Holland Crt., for $10 a year or for $100 for a lifetime membership."