Historical Society

Did You Know?

Happy 100th to the Lethbridge Public Library Building/SAAG building

In January 1922, the Lethbridge Public Library building in Galt Gardens was opened to the public.

The city chose not to have a formal ceremony for the opening of the new building.

The Lethbridge Daily Herald did take the opportunity to share a description of the interior of the new building.

The west side of the main floor was reserved for adults and was divided into reading and reference departments. Also located on the main floor was the “librarians enclosure with desk.”

The children’s room of the library was in the basement. In addition to children’s books, the area also had a children’s lecture room. This room was also available for small public meetings.

In the basement was also a workroom where books were repaired.

When built, the library had book cases to accommodate approximately 12,500 volumes. There was also a case of magazines and a newspaper rack. In the 1950s, an expansion was constructed onto the original building and the building served as the location of the Public Library until 1974.

Today the building, with another recent expansion, serves as the home of the Southern Alberta Art Gallery.

Lethbridge Historical Society

info@lethbridgehistory.org www.lethbridgehistory.org facebook.com/LethbridgeHistoricalSociety/

Photograph: Photograph shows the 1922 building as seen in November 2021.