Located at 292 Main Street
Box 4053
Arborg, MB
R0C 0A0
Phone: 204-376-5388
Email:
Please visit the Evergreen Regional Library Website at http://erlibrary.ca/ where you can search for books, login to the ebook library and find out more about the Arborg Library.
Hours:
Monday - 11-5
Tuesday - 1-8
Wednesday - 12-5
Thursday - 11-5
Friday – Closed
Saturday – Closed
Sunday - Closed
Closed for all main regular holidays. Library books and other materials can be returned at any time - the outdoor book drop is open around the clock.
Programs:
Story Hour:
For 3 to 5 year olds on Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Contact library to confirm.
Summer Reading Program:
For school-aged children every July & August.
Services:
- Computers:
- Four public computers
- Free internet and wireless available
- Printing:
- $0.25 for black & white
- $0.75 for colour
- Scanning:
- $2.00 scan charge
- Scan slides, photos & negatives into digital images, contact librarian for prices
- Rentals:
- Multi-media projector available for rental, contact librarian for price
- Video and DVD rental- $2.00 for two day rental
Evergreen Regional Library Arborg Branch History
Source: Evergreen Regional Library
The Canadian Pacific Railway Station was built in 1910. It was the site of much activity for many years. The station platform was crowded each evening when the train arrived in Arborg, an exciting and important event of the day. For years, the stationmaster and his family lived in the building on the job. The ticket office was situated in the now north end of the building. The stationmaster’s living room was in the center of the building and the freight room was what is now the south end of the building. The bay window was used to look out to see if the train was coming. The staircase wound upstairs to the rest of the stationmaster’s living quarters consisting of 4 more small rooms. The original staircase still exists as well as some of the original doorframes and baseboards upstairs. The original bench for waiting passengers still sits in the bay area on the main floor.
On Main Street in Arborg, in a pleasant setting of lawn and trees, in the former C.P.R. station, is the Evergreen Regional Library, Arborg Branch.
The Women’s Institutes of Gimli, Arborg and Riverton, under the chairmanship of Lara Tergesen, were the forerunners in forming a Regional Library in this part of the Interlake. Public Meetings were held, speakers from the Provincial Libraries and the Hon. Stewart McLean, Minister of Libraries at that time, spoke at these meetings. In Oct., 1964, a referendum was held in Gimli, the Villages of Arborg and Riverton and the Rural Municipalities of Gimli and Bifrost. A joint library was approved. A regional library was formed. The first meeting was held April 29, 1965 with Joe Franz, councillor of Gimli as chairman, Sigurbjorg Stefansson, secretary, John Rak of Riverton as treasurer. Other members of the first board were: Steinunn Johnson and Steve Kushnir of Gimli, Walter Kazimir and Sylvia Benson of Arborg, Gunnar Helgason and Gunner Simundson of the R.M. of Bifrost. Evergreen Regional Library was the name chosen.
A basic foundation grant of $10,000 from the province to regional libraries serving two municipalities, was not sufficient for five municipalities with three branches. The Gimli Womenís Institute drew up a brief to present to mayors and reeves of the five municipalities. The local M.L.A. Hon. George Johnson arranged a meeting with the Ministers of Libraries, Hon. Stewart E. McLean. Miss Sigurbjorg Stefansson presented the brief. The two Cabinet Ministers placed the problem before the Legislature and an additional $2000 grant was allowed for each municipality above two. As a result there was $6000 allowed for the Evergreen Regional Library.
Miss Lucille Roussin B.A. was the first central Librarian and organized all three branches. She was succeeded by Miss Anna Larusson, followed by Mrs. Dorothy Taylor of Gimli in 1967. In 1972, former library assistant, Mrs. Adriana Bouillet of Gimli become head librarian and still helds this position in 1986.
In Arborg, Mrs. Jean Humeny was the first librarian, followed by Mrs. Margaret Raymer, then Mrs. Alice Drabik. Mrs. Jessie Brigg became librarian Jan. 1969 to May 30, 1983, and was succeeded by Mrs. Sigurborg Gudmundson.
The library in Arborg was opened by the Hon. Stewart E. McLean who, with Mrs. Lily Gislason of Arborg, cut the ribbon.
The Arborg Library was first in a front room of building next to the Village Office on Main Street but there wasnít enough room. In 1975 the library was moved to the phased out C.P.R. station, which had been built in 1910. Many improvements were made in this building which had been acquired by the Village of Arborg. The north part was used for the library and the south end was occupied by the Arborg Volunteer Fire Department and fire engine. The double use of this building lasted until 1980 when the Fire Department moved to other quarters and the library obtained the use of the whole area. With financial help, jointly of the Provincial Government and the Village of Arborg, the south end received extensive renovations and a new south entrance was made. On the outside the building still retains the old-time appearance of the station, including the wooden platform. Inside is a spacious area lined with bookshelves, two large tables for reading and research projects, comfortable chairs and pleasant surroundings.
Arborg has approximately 11, 500 books, including the 1,256 in the Icelandic collection. There are novels, mysteries, large-print books, westerns, light romances, science fiction, young adult fiction and non-fiction, biographies, Ukrainian and Polish books, reference books, atlases, periodicals, record albums and many pocket books. There is a large selection of fine children’s books. There are three rotations, of 100 books per year, between branches. There is a regular rotation from other libraries through Gimli, which gives us an extensive and varies selection. Through the Public Library Services many advantages are available to library members. Books in Winnipeg libraries and other libraries throughout the province can be obtained as well as reference material.
The Evergreen Regional Library is certainly an asset to our community. Due to the unceasing efforts of those first groups, we have this service here today.