We’re going to look at the history of the Cochrane Public Library itself the next couple of weeks, as we dig into its vast archives.

Let’s go back to the 1980s. Names like head librarian Denis Cotgrave and children’s librarian Kathy Peever might ring a bell.

During that decade, if a book was excessively overdue, you would receive a card reminding you of that and threatening to charge you the replacement value.

And speaking of the archives department, then Mayor Ray Fortier cut the ribbon officially inaugurating the archives in October, 1985.

An overdue book notice from 1983.
(Cochrane Public Library Archives)