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."

Photograph of a display for mystery novels at the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library. The print on the back of the developed photograph includes "JAN/1/98 12:00AM". The back of the photograph also indicates it was developed on Kodak DuraLife paper.

Poster to advertise "A Conversation with Justin Trudeau in Bradford" event that took place at the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library on February 15 2013. Handwriting in red marker and highlighted in yellow on the back reads "Stats done Jan/ Mar 2013 | 300 people approx attended".

Digitized photographs and newspaper clippings from Heidi Northover's collection, depicting life at the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library from 1987 to 2022. The original items were lent to the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library for digitization by Heidi Northover leading up to her retirement from her 36-year career as a Library Technician on March 30, 2024. Many of the photographs have handwriting on the back identifying the subjects, the events, and the dates they were taken.