1920-1929

Weston Public Library started the new decade being closed for circulation from January 1 to February 12, 1920 because of a smallpox epidemic.

Also in 1920, Weston Public Library Board had its first female member - Isabella McVean, a bank clerk. Although she only served for that year, Miss McVean was also on the first Weston Technical High School Board in 1923.

Another woman, Miss Agnes Sosnowksy, joined the library board in 1921. A member of a prominent local family, she had been the librarian at Weston from 1914 to 1917, replacing her younger sister, Florence Sosnowksy, who had started in the position in 1907.

The Library Board was praised in the early 1920s for placing two trophy guns from the First World War on the library grounds, one near the front entrance and the other at the southwest corner of the building. “These trophies will stand for time,” and will always be a silent tribute to our boys who fell and gave their aid for the great cause,” proclaimed a local newspaper. “Thus it may be seen that the Library Board had the true kind of hearts that Weston needs to build up her community spirit”.

Use of Weston Public Library exploded between 1920 and 1929, with circulation rising 163 percent (from 23,772 to 62,558 items) and the number of borrowers growing 307 percent (from 1,657 to 6,744 people).