History

1868
The Peterborough Mechanics Institute, established in 1868, housed a subscription library that allowed members who paid a fee to borrow books. Mechanics Institutes were established across Ontario to make education universal and accessible to all citizens. In Peterborough the Institute and the Library were located on Water Street.

1882
The Ontario Legislature passed the Free Libraries Act.

1895
The Peterborough Mechanics Institute became the Peterborough Public Library in May. The library location remained on Water Street.

1911
The Peterborough Public Library received funding from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation and the new Carnegie Library located on George Street opened. This building is currently the Carnegie Wing of City Hall.

1949
In February of 1949 a Branch Library opened in the south end of Peterborough. It was situated above a hardware store and was a room 50 by 20 feet. It was divided into two sections – one for boys and girls, the other for adults.

1965
The DelaFosse Branch Library opened officially on December 1, 1965. The Peterborough Examiner declared that this Park Street South branch, made "south end residents the envy of the rest of the city."

1980
The Main Library on Aylmer St. opened on Tuesday, September 2, 1980. The new library was built on the site of the old fire hall and had about triple the floor space of the old Carnegie building. The opening ceremonies were on September 17 and featured Dr. Robertson Davies, Master of Massey College, University of Toronto, as the keynote speaker.

1998
Public Access Internet became available, through a partnership with a local business, on a fee-for-service basis.

2000
Free Public Access Internet became available at both branches of the library through a Gates Foundation grant.