Hespeler Carnegie Library Building: Celebrating 100 Years

2023 marks 100 years since the Carnegie Library Building opened in Hespeler and we are celebrating with events and programs throughout the year.

“We are very excited to mark this special year with events and activities that commemorate this milestone," said Susan Hastings, Acting Manager of Idea Exchange, Hespeler. “We will tell the story of not only this building, but the community through celebrations, presentations from authors and historians, commemorative items, creative activities, and more that Idea Exchange staff are planning.”

Celebrate 100 years of ideas, learning, and reading in Hespeler with our Share Your Library Love project. Stop into the Hespeler location and pick up a Share Your Library Love postcard, use it to share your favourite story from the Hespeler library.

On Saturday, June 24, Idea Exchange, Hespeler will host an Open House as part of the celebrations. There will be entertainment and activities that will be fun for the whole family.

In addition, there will be a lecture series for those interested in learning more about Hespeler and the community. The next lecture is planned for Saturday, April 15. More details will be posted closer to the event dates. 

Of course, there had been a public library in the town for many years, but it didn’t have a permanent home. That changed in 1923 with the new library opening at the corner of Adam and Tannery Streets. The original Carnegie Library building has seen many changes in the years since it opened, most notably the award-winning renovation in 2007. It continues to provide residents with a community space to explore their creativity, access free learning and recreational opportunities, and connect with others on both a local and global scale.

Image courtesy of the City of Cambridge Archives.