A Little History


History of the Scarborough Friends
The Friends of the Library organization was founded in 1970 as the Friends of the Scarborough Public Library. Over the years, the organization has grown from 22 members at the start to 200 in 2009. The Friends are now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Donations to the Friends are tax deductible.

 

Scarborough Public Library History Highlights
Founded in 1899 on Black Point Road, the first library, built in 1900, did not have heat until a stove was installed in 1907. Kerosene lamps provided light until the Black Point Church supplied power for electric lights. The library was open every Friday from 1-5 p.m. The library was expanded in 1937, 1951, and 1976. In 1978, the library employed six people and was open every afternoon, one morning, and two evenings a week. The current library building, at Oak Hill, opened in 1990. The library’s print and audiovisual collection contains over 72,000 titles.

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