At the Jesse Ketchum Library

A History of Our Library

"The Jesse Ketchum Library was dedicated to the memory of Jesse Ketchum, pioneer benefactor and founder of Knox Church.

The library was renovated in 1995 through the generosity of the Katie Snyder Martin Trust, administered by the Rev. George Lowe, and the Board of Managers of Knox Church."

So reads the plaque to be placed in the library which was rededicated by our pastor, Dr. John Vissers, in a short ceremony after morning service, Sunday, September 17, 1995.

We give God all the praise and gratitude for this another new beginning in the history of the library.

Knox has long had a library in one form or another--even when it was operated from a large box in the corridor beside what is now the Winchester Room.

When the Fellowship Centre was constructed, space for a library was provided adjacent to the Common Room, where all the young people's meetings convened. In no time it was well stocked with current biblical and theological works, commentaries, dictionaries, and Bible study material. Although it was accessible to the younger crowd, it was not convenient for the congregation at large.

In early 1970, the library was relocated in the Winchester Room and cabinets were constructed along the north wall. This arrangement soon proved inadequate and, as part of Knox 150, Phase II, the library was moved to what had been known as the Social Room. After extensive renovations there was a service of dedication and the room, which was to be shared with the choir, was renamed the Jesse Ketchum Room and the library, the Jesse Ketchum Library.

The book collection at that time numbered around 2,000. The library has continued to grow and now we are nudging the 5,000 mark, including the teens and children's sections. A new venture was the development of video sections for both adults and children, which have proved to be well used.

Another major step was to recatalogue all books and videos in the Dewey Decimal System. Through gifts from the Katie Snyder Martin Trust the library was given a computer on which the books and videos have been entered and indexed. We are grateful to those in the congregation who have helped us over these busy days.

The Knox Tape ministry provides copies of sermon cassette tapes which may be borrowed. In addition we have cassette tapes for children and adults on a variety of subjects.

The library also subscribes to many Christian and missionary magazines for the information and enlightenment of our congregation. These are located in the Winchester Room.

We seek to place in the library items that can stand the test of the Word of God and are suitable for the building up of His people.

"Reading makes a full man..." (Francis Bacon); Christian reading makes a full Christian.

Reima Robertson, Knox librarian