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1964
Mayor Moskovitch and Council of the City of Côte Saint-Luc
set up a citizen-led Côte Saint-Luc Library Advisory
Committee to recommend procedures in the establishment of
a library.
1965
The Committee submits a report recommending that a permanent
library building be constructed in Neighbourhood 5 (its
current location); that temporary quarters be found in the
meantime, and that a professional librarian be hired. The
“Public Library By-Law” is passed by the City
Council. Eleanor London is hired on November 1 to set up
a library from scratch.
1966
Côte Saint-Luc Library opens on the second floor in
the Côte Saint-Luc Shopping Centre on September 7.
The 4,322 square feet location is supposed to be “temporary”.
Its opening hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Monday to
Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and closed on Sundays.
About four hundred members join within the first four hours.
1968
The library extends its opening hours to include Sundays,
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
1969
A policy is instituted to gradually take over the office
space on the shopping centre’s second floor as other
tenants vacate. As a result, the library’s area is
increased to 5,897 square feet. Library hours become 10
a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.
1970
The library begins its final expansion at the Côte
Saint-Luc Shopping Centre, doubling its size to 8,000 square
feet and occupying most of the second floor. Library service
to shut-ins is started.
1975
The library’s international collection of phone books
is expanded significantly.
1977
A committee is set up to look into the library’s space
problem.
1978
Non-Côte Saint-Luc residents joining the library now
have to pay an annual fee of $20 per family. Less than 50%
of members at this time are from Côte Saint-Luc. Municipal
inter-library loan network set up.
1982
No new non-residents are allowed to join the library. All
existing non-resident members could continue their membership
as long as they pay an annual fee.
1984
Discounts on books for libraries cease, according to Quebec
Law 51.
1985
Construction for new Library/City Hall complex begins. The
City of Côte Saint-Luc receives $1.2 million grant
from the provincial government for the project, which cost
$8 million overall. Members of Côte Saint-Luc Library
are asked to supply a photo of themselves for their membership
cards, a move to help prevent unauthorized use.
1986
The library relocates to its current Cavendish Blvd. home,
closing for only two days in its entire history. An audiovisual
collection, including video and audiocassettes, is introduced.
VCRs become available for the public to view films in the
library. Dr. Joe Schwarcz’s Science Demystified lectures
begin on Monday afternoons once a month.
1987
Audiovisual counter area named William E. Kesler Room. Smokers’
lounge is disbanded.
1989
The library’s Natural History Museum is officially
dedicated to Mr. Nat Levine, donor of the collection it
houses. The Current Events program with Graeme Decarie begins.
1997
The library’s website is launched.
The library offers public Internet access and subscribes
to Proquest, a popular database.
1998
The library is used as a shelter during the Ice Storm. Mayor
Bernard Lang leaves office after 22 years.
1999
RECON project (retrospective conversion of existing records
into machine readable format) is started.
2001
The library is renamed the “Eleanor London Côte
Saint Luc Public Library”. Quebec government cancels
the library’s book-buying grant.
2002
As a result of the mergers, library membership opens up
to anyone who lives on the Island of Montreal. Eleanor London
retires. Lisa Milner is appointed the Division Chief of
Culture, Libraries, and Social Development. Sonia Mirarchi
becomes the Children’s Librarian. Library automates
with the Millennium system by iii Innovative Interfaces.
2003
The first Children’s Summer Reading Club, a collaboration
involving several public libraries, is held.
2004
Graphic novels and CD audiobooks are introduced into the
collection. The Children’s section is re-named the
“Youth Department”. Côte Saint-Lucers
vote to demerge from Montreal. Library membership triples
from pre-merger numbers, with CSL residents comprising less
than one third of the total membership.
2005
Fines go up for the first time in the library’s history.
Membership fees of $5 are implemented for everyone. DVDs
are introduced into the collection. Montreal is World Book
Capital for the 2005–2006 year, beginning on April
23. Elections are held for the new CSL Council. Mayor Anthony
Housefather is elected and appoints Councillor Steven Erdelyi
to the library portfolio.
2006
The City of Côte Saint-Luc officially reconstitutes.
Non-resident membership fees are established at $175 per
individual, $300 for families, and $100 for seniors and
students. Library membership is approximately 10,000 with
approximately 90% from CSL. The Council reaches four-year
deals with Hamsptead and Montreal West, allowing their residents
to use the library on terms advantageous to CSL. Library
and Culture Committee is set up. Tanya Abramovitch becomes
the Director of Library Services. Library renovations take
place, creating a centralized circulation desk and a café.
The library becomes a wifi hotspot. The library celebrates
its 40th anniversary / 20th anniversary in current building.
Readers’ Advisory Department is created. Graeme Decarie
leaves Montreal. New library website is launched. |
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