Sunnyside Branch library celebrates 75th anniversary

By Charlotte Halstead

In 1906, Lawrence Burpee, chief librarian of the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) called for alibrary branch to be erected in Old Ottawa South. It would take several more calls to action before a small book depot was opened inside Hopewell Avenue Public School in the fall of 1911. The depot had about 500 books in its collection and was open sporadically a few evenings a week.

As time went on, membership and circulation outgrew available space at Hopewell. In 1923, the branch moved into a storefront space at 1208 Bank Street, now the current location of Vertigo Records. By 1931, a 10-year retrospective report from the Library Board recommended that a proper home for the branch be established, at an estimated cost of $25,000 to $30,000. At the time, annual rent amounted to $100 a year (approximately $1900 in 2026 dollars). Growing concern from local residents created mounting pressure on they OPL to commission a new library for Ottawa South. They wished to see a facility that was built to the likes of Rideau and Rosemount branches.

In January 1951, this wish was granted when the newly constructed Ottawa South Branch opened its doors at 1049 Bank Street. Between 1951 and 1952, the number of registered borrowers doubled from 1051 to 2076, with circulation numbers totaling around 57,000 books. In 1985, the branch underwent a major renovation to expand the building and reconfigure the garage to allow for Bookmobile service. The children’s department was moved to the basement, creating a separate children’s library. At the beginning of 2001, the new City of Ottawa was created after the amalgamation of numerous municipalities and townships. As a result, the Ottawa South branch was no longer located at the south end of the city and was subsequently renamed as Sunnyside Branch.

Saving Sunnyside
Three years later, in 2004, when the city proposed closing the branch as a cost-cutting measure, passionate residents gathered to protest, creating a temporary closure of Bank Street. Said June Creelman in the April 2004 Glebe Report, “Wow! That’s all we can say about the huge community response to the proposal to close the Sunnyside and other community libraries. Never have we seen so many people mobilized about anissue in such a short time. In less than two weeks, we organized two major rallies, got 25,000 signatures on a petition, made presentations at three public hearings, and succeeded in persuading the Ottawa Library Board to rescind its recommendations on library closures.”The branch underwent renovations in 2014 to incorporate the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology that was being rolled out across OPL’s system to track, sort and check out library books. As the building continues to age, plans are being made for future improvements, including window and roof replacements.

Celebration
For over 75 years, the Sunnyside Branch has been a gathering place for readers, learners, and neighbours. We celebrate this milestone with the community that has supported this branch for generations. On March 28, the branch hosted a 75th anniversary party marking the anniversary of the branch’s relocation to 1049 Bank Street. The event was an overwhelming success, with over 1,700 people in attendance throughout the day. A typical Saturday gate count at our branch is around 800 people, for reference. In the morning, attendees witnessed the magic of John Pert, a local magician, followed by face painting and button making. Ottawa Centre’s MP Yasir Naqvi stopped by to drop off a commemorative scroll to mark the occasion. In the afternoon, we heard remarks from Capital Ward’s Councillor Shawn Menard, OPL Board Chair Matt Luloff and Chief Librarian and CEO Sonia Bebington. Members of the library board were in attendance, as well as former staff and longtime clients, one of whom was a participant in the 2004 protest to save the Sunnyside Branch. Attendees enjoyed cake and refreshments and took time to browse the curated displays of the branch’s history. We finished the day with an interactive visit from the Zoo Crew, where attendees learned more about ferrets, sugar gliders, tortoises, chinchilla and other small mammals and reptiles. It was a pleasure to participate in this event, and I feel fortunate to have been a part of such a big milestone for Sunnyside Branch. Clients shared many anecdotes about the importance of the library in their community and daily lives. We look forward to remaining a fixture in Old Ottawa South, the Glebe and Old Ottawa East neighbourhoods for years to come. Charlotte Halstead is a librarian and the branch coordinator at OPL’s Sunnyside Branch.

Cake cutting to celebrate the OPL Sunnyside Branch’s 75th anniversary
In 1923, the Ottawa South Branch of the Ottawa Public Library was housed in a storefront location at 1208 Bank Street.The Ottawa South Branch of the Ottawa Public Library moved to its current location in 1951. In 2001, it was renamed the Sunnyside Branch. In 2004 when the city was about to close the Sunnyside Branch, thousands of protesters filled the street and succeeded in saving it.