"Bradford library is being whipped into shape. There is a new head librarian with new ideas. Ann Marie Newman started part-time in February and last week she began full time. Anne Marie is from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and she studied sociology at Dalhousie University. After graduation, Ann Marie was taken on staff of the University library. For two and a half years, she catalogued books in the Special Collection department. "I worked with all facets of technical library skills," explained Ann Marie. Dan Blake of Bradford's Library Board interviewed her and in February Ann Marie became head librarian."
"A surprising number of people living in and around the Bradford area don't even know the town boasts a flourishing public library. Tell them that it's situated right across from the IGA and they'll be even more astonished. But, with a membership of better than 1,150 and still climbing, reading is obviously a popular activity in Bradford, and for that, book-lovers and those who only use library facilities now and again, can thank Library Administrator Gertrude Melbourne, assistant Amanda Kneeshaw and library secretary Susan Klop, all of Bradford."
Photograph of Ethel Day, wife of Professor W.H. Day and librarian of Bradford Public Library from 1936 - 1953. She was also the mother of Ida Day Smith, former librarian, whom she took over from in 1936. Mrs. Day was the sole librarian and worked originally a room on the second floor of T.W.W. Evans law office at 21 Holland St. West, then in the late 1940s, moved to a room above the fire hall on Barrie Street. She hand-wrote all records, and was librarian until her death on November 23, 1953.
Photograph of Ida Day Smith, daughter of Professor W.H. Day and librarian of Bradford Public Library in 1936. She was also the daughter of Ethel Day, who took over the librarianship in 1936. Ida Day was the sole librarian after Mary Brown, and worked in a second floor room of T.W.W. Evans' law office. Once she married Raymond Smith in October of 1936, the couple moved away and Ida's mother, Ethel, took over the librarianship duties.
Shelf lists of Bradford Public Library memberships on top of the card catalogue. The card catalogue still is in the library in the Bill & Erica Marks Archive room.
Working at the Bradford Library are Anita Sikma, Marilyn Reynolds, Susan West and Adrienne Price, Librarian. This photo appeared in the Bradford Witness and South Simcoe News on Jan. 16, 1985.
