‘A really special day’: Winnipeg library celebrates 110th birthday

Winnipeg’s St. John’s Library celebrated 110 years of helping residents connect with new books.

A Winnipeg library that first opened its doors during the First World War is celebrating over a century of literacy, learning and lending in the heart of the North End.

St. John’s Library hosted a party Monday in honour of its 110th birthday, inviting the public inside for food, activities, and free books—with a valid library card, of course.

Attendees could also sign a giant birthday card, decorate a party hat, and take in a photo wall and educational display packed with memories and information about the library’s century-plus history.

Assistant library branch head Erin Schwartz said schools, families, and even former employees dropped by the party.

“Today is a perfect day to celebrate old and new all coming together,” she told CTV News Winnipeg.

While Schwartz has seen a recent uptick in patrons, she hopes the party will attract new visitors to the library—visitors she hopes will return.

“It’s really nice to see everyone out here today, and I hope to see some of the new faces come back, the familiar faces, of course, coming back again. It’s a really special day.”

The storied history of St. John’s Library

According to the city, the library at the corner of Machray Avenue and Salter Street was built with a $35,000 grant from the Carnegie Foundation to serve the rapidly growing North End.

It was designed by architect John N. Semmens based on building requirements of Carnegie-funded libraries.

The facility first opened its doors on June 2, 1915, featuring dark oak woodwork, antique reading tables, and two fireplaces—which remain today.

The original, one-storey brick building was closed in July 2019 for a renovation and expansion, adding a new accessible entrance, computer area, and leisure spaces.

Some of the beloved heritage features, like the librarian’s safe for penny fines, remain today, evoking the design of genteel libraries of the early 20th century.

The library is also a municipally-designated historic building and received the Manitoba Historical Society’s Centennial Organization Award and Heritage Winnipeg’s Conservation Award.

It turns out St. John’s is not the only Winnipeg Public Library celebrating the massive milestone.

The Cornish Library is also set to mark its 110th birthday this year, having first opened its doors on June 15, 1915—days after St. John’s welcomed patrons for the first time.

Cornish Library was also built with funds from the Carnegie Foundation and has a similar layout and design to St. John’s.

Similarly, the Armstrong Point facility was designated a heritage building and underwent significant renovations in 2018, reopening four years later with upgrades to the upper and lower levels.

There’s no word yet on how the Cornish Library will mark its 110th birthday.