Memories from the 50s to the 70s
I grew up in Weston during the 50s, 60s and 70s and lived on Church Street, about a 15 minute walk from the Library. I don’t recall when I first visited the Library — just that I liked going there, always felt comfortable and welcome, went regularly and was allowed to go there on my own. The entrance was on King Street and the children’s area was in the basement to the left at the bottom of the stairs. On the right side of the stairs, there was a hallway with washrooms to the right, furnace room to the left and a staff area at the end of the hall.
Miss Rothery was in charge of children’s services. She had short greying auburn hair, wore sensible flat shoes and carried large shopping bags of books around with her. Miss Rothery knew me by name, always encouraged me in my reading and I was happy when she referred to me as her best reader. I found many treasures in the children’s collection that engaged my imagination and allowed me to explore countries, history, biographies, and stories – anything I wanted. The books were well read and many were mended. The children’s room had wooden book shelves around the perimeter with large tables and benches in the middle and a tile floor. On Saturdays the tables would be pushed to the side to show films, which always attracted an enthusiastic crowd.
Library Board meetings were held in the children’s room in the evening after hours. I recall seeing one of the large tables set for meetings. Marjorie Campbell, a history teacher at Weston Collegiate was heavily involved in the library and chaired the Board. My dad, Doug Cameron was on the Library Board for a year or two right before the amalgamation with York.
Children were not allowed in the adult area upstairs or to borrow adult books. I recall the day I turned 14 and was allowed to go upstairs. It was a thrill to be able to borrow books from the adult area! At the same time, as soon as I turned 14, I applied for a social insurance number so that I could apply to work at the library and so I began working as a page at Weston Library around the end of 1963 right through to fall 1968 when I started university. Back in those days, a page earned about $.90 per hour.
Working at the Weston Library was always interesting. I did a bit of everything from shelving, shelf reading, checking out books to helping with children’s programs. I recall Mrs. Hodges and Mrs. McGregor who worked in the adult area; they were always kind to me, taught me how to do many things including sorting McBee circulation cards with a “knitting” needle. They encouraged me to consider becoming a branch head.
We didn’t always have a branch head during my time working at Weston. I recall Betty Ann Dzida spent a brief period as Weston Branch Head as did Alex Richardson who left Weston to become an Anglican priest for a time. To my surprise, when I started working at Etobicoke Public Libraries in 1980, Betty Ann was the branch head at New Toronto Library, starting there before New Toronto amalgamated with Etobicoke in 1967 and remaining there until she retired. Alex Richardson worked at Brentwood Library and was Head of Reference/Assistant Branch Head until he left Etobicoke.
In 1967, Weston Library became part of the York Public Library system. This was a great concern to the staff and customers alike. We worried about how the Weston Library would be regarded by York. We wanted to make a good impression! Because at this point Weston did not have a branch head, my recollection is that York sent Miss Hoskins before we were officially amalgamated, to take charge. Miss Hoskins was slight, quiet spoken with dark hair and very professional in her approach to her work. I observed Miss Hoskins spending time reviewing and weeding the collection and providing direction to staff to ensure that everything was completed appropriately. Miss Evelyn Gregory, York’s chief librarian, came to visit and inspect Weston several times during the period of transition. I recall her as a very correct, grey haired lady, purse over arm, being toured around and taking note of everything. We worked very hard to have things in order for Miss Gregory’s visits.
When in grade 12 or 13 and needing access to a larger collection for my school work, I went by bus on my first visit to a larger library beyond Weston, York’s Main branch (now Maria A. Shchuka branch).
After starting university, I went onto other part time and summer jobs from waiting on tables to processing film, working in university libraries, leading student tutorials and the like. I didn’t intend to have a career in libraries and was even advised by professors not to waste my talents becoming a librarian. In the end however, I did become a librarian because I understood the power of libraries and the difference that they make in communities first hand from my experience growing up in Weston and using the Weston Library. This is why the Weston Library, now 100 years old, is still as relevant, valued and important as when it opened in 1914 – a real community cornerstone.
— Anne Bailey, October 2014