By Nancy Miller Chenier
Good news about our Rideau Street library came in the form of a February news release stating that customers would be welcome inside for returns, hold pickups, and some browsing. For many in our community, the public access to the computers was a long awaited benefit.
The Rideau Branch opened officially in 1934 with former Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden as key speaker. Its early status as the first bilingual public library in North America was largely attributable to the board members like Jules Tremblay, Maurice Morriset and Henri St Jacques, avid defenders of French language and culture. The branch started in 1926 in a rented building on Rideau Street at the northeast corner of King Edward Avenue. At the opening, the Ottawa Citizen noted that of the 1000 volumes on the shelves, half were in English and half were in French.
For Henri St Jacques, the library at 377 Rideau Street was a key institution in his neighbourhood. When he purchased his corner property at 113 Charlotte Street in 1921, he was already a lawyer and raising a young family. As a member of the Ottawa Public Library board, he argued for the site between Nelson and Friel. When he became chair of the board a month after the new building opened, he acknowledged receipt of gifts for the branch – Canada history books donated by Arthur Doughty and a marble sculpture of Savonarola donated by Mrs. Andrew Fleck. During the tough depression years of the late 1930s, he continued to fight for funding and for increased acquisition of books written in French for the branch.
Over its nine decades of service, there have been occasional closures of the branch, mainly when it underwent alterations or repairs. Over the years, it has been rearranged and lost some original interior features such as the central charging station with brass rails to guide anyone entering or leaving the building past the desk. It had one short closure after the 2010 earthquake when it was inspected for damage. It has always had to find ways to fund some changes: government grants for repairs and replacement of heating systems, and on occasion, book sales to fund new technology.
But for most of the time, the library has been open to residents of all ages and interests, not only for book and other borrowing but also for events with local authors, occasional movies, space for art exhibitions and meeting rooms to rent. At present, the virtual world of the Ottawa Public Library is rich with programs offering advice on gardening, homework, technology, genealogy, or a chance to participate in virtual cooking classes and talks by authors.
The Rideau public library is both an important building in our community and a major community service. The pandemic has made us more aware of its loss during times of closure. While some residents can connect virtually with the wider library system during Covid times, many miss the ability to walk through the distinctive pedimented door and into this heritage building with its lofty interior and decorative beams and art works from the City’s collection.
Access to our library is so essential for our community; even more so in this time when we are distanced from people and events. So, keep advocating for this wonderful building and the services that make a difference in our neighbourhood.