The Cranbrook Public Library opened its doors on July 4, 1925, in a room on the upper floor of the old post office on the corner of Baker St. and 10th Ave. Officiating at the opening, Mayor T.M. Roberts stated that he took much pleasure in wishing the good ship “Library” and its officers bon voyage and declared, “The Library is open.” He then signed out the first book. Although some of the ensuing structures carrying the “Good Ship Library” have floundered and sunk since that day, the library itself has managed to (mostly) stay above water for eighty-five years.

This was not the first attempt to float a public library in the town. It was just that this particular time the launch proved successful and Cranbrook could now boast of a book collection available to all members of the public.

In the early days of the city, groups such as the YMCA, the Women’s Institute, the Literary Society, the Recreation Club and many of the local churches all had small libraries available for members only. By 1905, a public reading room was established in the Watt building on Baker St. (now the site of The Bedroom) relying solely on donations of books. Local drug stores also offered lending libraries, as in the case of Cranbrook Drug and Book (later Scott’s Drugs), requiring monthly fees to borrow books. For the most part, however, the average reader faced a definite lack of ready reading material.

In 1921, an ad hoc committee promoted a public library as a WWI Memorial but the present day cenotaph soon became the project of popular choice. In 1922, a very small library was included as part of the proposed downtown Rotary Children’s Park. The park took shape over the next few years but the library was not included.

The real push began in early 1925 when a committee gathered the names of ninety-five families pledging support for the formation of a permanent library. The government of the day granted the group a room on the second floor of the old post office at a nominal fee. Although it was not an ideal space in terms of size or accessibility it was certainly better than no space at all and the newly formed volunteer Library Board, under chairman G.J. Spreull, began the task of finding books, shelving, furniture and a librarian. A canvassing of the city for books and members – at a yearly cost of $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for juniors - coupled with a small grant from the city - allowed the project to move ahead. Former kindergarten teacher Miss Amy Sabina Rumsey proved willing to act as librarian three evenings a week from 7-10 p.m. and carried on the task until her death in Jan. 1945 at age sixty-one.

The early days were not easy in terms of finance. The fees received from members regularly failed to offset the monthly operating costs and the Library Board approached city council for a grant of $300 per annum. After some deliberation, the city agreed thereby allowing the “Good Ship Library” to stay afloat.

The year 1926 year saw an average of 366 patrons attending per month to choose from the 2,000 books available. The official membership, now at 180, fluctuated over the ensuing years even as the book collection continued to grow. In 1935, at the height of the Depression, the library hit an all time low membership of 94. Eight hundred and forty-six non-members attended the library that year, many of them to read the magazines and periodicals available. Aviation and scientific journals gradually gave way to photography, travel, and news magazines. By the late 1930s membership was once again on the upswing with 232 members reading an average of 15.4 books per capita (The “.4” per cent most likely being “War and Peace”).

Overall, the enterprise, by now a reasonably popular and stable operation, encountered a major setback in Aug. 1946, when the government ordered the library to vacate the premises immediately in order to make room for an Indian Agency office.

Surprised patrons wishing to borrow books found a sign stating simply, “Library closed until further notice.”