Library Seeks Locals in NFB Film “Books for Beaver River”

Do you remember “Books for Beaver River?” The Shellbrook Public Library is looking for people who remember or who were involved with the 1961 film by the National Film Board of Canada. Please contact Librarian Alanna Carswell at 747-3419.

As part of its Diamond Anniversary, the Shellbrook Public Library is looking for individuals involved with or who remember the filming of “Books for Beaver River.” The Library adds to its history as it moves through its fourth decade of history. The Library is also presenting a program on how to use the Library’s online catalogue on March 22 at 7:00 pm.

 The Library is searching for individuals and memories of people in the 1961 National Film Board of Canada short film, “Books for Beaver River” which illustrates the start of the area’s regional library system. This movie was filmed in the fictional town of Beaver River, the locations in realty being the town of Shellbrook, Marchant Grove, and Rayside School and locals made appearances. Please contact Librarian Alanna at 747-3419.

Continuing the revelation of history by decades, the Shellbrook Public Library saw seven librarians serving the community by the 1980s: Vesta Massey from 1952 to 1960; Dorothy Loth in 1960; Doris Smith from 1961 to 1975; Dorothy Perkins from 1975 to 1977, Anne Anderson in 1978, Brenda Kinnaird in 1978 to 1979; and the longest serving Hazel Barkway with an impressive fifteen years (not fourteen as mistakenly reported previously) from 1979 to 1994. Also continuing was the many moves by the Library.

As previously noted the location hopped from Halliwell Hardware, to the Ladies Restroom, to the Elks Theatre, to Dorothy’s Floral Shop, to Norman Smith’s Furniture Store from about 1962 to 1977 and then to the Shellbrook Credit Union from 1977 to 1984. On April 3, 1984, after many years of planning, the Library was able to move into a building built for its needs with 1,144 square feet of space at 56 Main Street.

 Library locations were not the only things changing over the four decades, but the library circulation as well: annual circulation in 1957 was 1,167 items and by 1984 it was an amazing 20,519 items. Notable fiction books published in 1982, the Library’s thirtieth year, were “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker, “The Gunslinger” (The Dark Tower series, #1) by Stephen King, “The Cherokee Trail” by Louis L'Amour, “Schindler's List” by Thomas Keneally, “Pawn of Prophecy” (The Belgariad series, #1) by David Eddings, “My Sweet Audrina” by V.C. Andrews, “A Cry In The Night” by Mary Higgins Clark, “Crystal Singer” (Crystal Singer series, #1) by Anne McCaffrey, “The BFG” by Roald Dahl, “Encyclopedia Brown Takes the Cake!“ (Encyclopedia Brown series, #15 1/2) by Donald J. Sobol, “The Berenstain Bears in the Dark” by Stan Berenstain, and “Doctor De Soto” by William Steig.

The Library is offering a class on Thursday, March 22 at 7:00 pm, on how to learn how to use the online catalogue to find books, order in items, and what to do when you just can’t find the title you want. Openings are limited to available computer seats at the Library so hurry to register by dropping in or phoning Librarian Alanna at 747-3419.