1902 - 1958

The Carnegie Corporation donated $15,000 for the library building on condition that the City of New Westminster would provide the site and a minimum of $1,500 per year to support it. This was readily agreed to and the cornerstone of the Library was laid on October 1st, 1902 in a ceremony attended by many New Westminster citizens.

The building was completed in October 1903, but due to a shortage of books and political wrangling, between City Council and the Library Commissioners, the new Library did not open until 1905.

The years in the Carnegie Library saw the development of the first consistent modern community services, accompanied by increased expectations of New Westminster residents. For the first time, professionally trained librarians were hired, the book stacks were opened to the public (prior to this, library patrons requested titles which were kept in a closed area), and both Children's and Reference Rooms were created.

The Depression years were very difficult financially while library services were in even greater demand. In the mid 1930's, 5,500 people were registered as borrowers, and the Library was circulating 150,000 books a year, all on an annual budget of only $10,000!

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