About

Nestled in the heart of the village of Magnetawan, located in Ontario’s Near North, the Magnetawan Public Library has evolved over the years. Originally housed in Hazel Chamberlain’s Bake Shop, the library was run by a dedicated group of volunteers who, with the assistance of Ray Smith and Gwen Dickie, procured books from the Algonquin Regional Library out of Parry Sound. The founding group of volunteers included Mary Putman, Marj Fraser, Ruth Raaflaub, Pete Wurm, Jean Lorusso, Christine Raaflaub, Marilyn Raaflaub, Ruth Fraser, and others.

For a time, the library relocated to the Seniors Building, and volunteers continued to ensure the community had access to books. In 1982, the library moved into the then-brand-new community centre and became a Union Public Library, receiving partial funding. With the help of a Trillium grant in 2011, we renovated our tiny space – almost doubling in size – and added our much beloved children’s area.

To this day, the library remains the hub of the community, a place where you can bring your kids, come for some quiet time, access business services or just visit with your neighbours. Stop in, flip through a few pages and say hello!