Jim and Mary Kearl Library serves the needs of approximately 3,600 local residents.
They offer Children's Books, Juvenile Fiction and Non Fiction, Young Adult Books, Adult Fiction and Non Fiction, Large Print Books, eAudiobooks, Music and Videos on CDs, and Magazines and Newspapers.
There are continuing additions to the collections.
A pivotal event developed from a newspaper clipping, indicating that Ike and Jean Barber had donated $20 million dollars to a new library at UBC.
Ike Barber was one known locally by the name Irving Kearl Barber of Edmonton in 1939 and the early '40s. It was suggested that perhaps he and his wife would be willing to donate significantly to the Cardston library and name the library for his mother, Irene Kearl Barber who had served in the Relief Society in Edmonton in the early 1940s. Subsequently they decided to name the library for both Ike’s grandparents, Jim and Mary Kearl as they were known locally.
Ike and Jean were very responsive to this invitation and immediately committed to $400,000.00 with the suggestion that the board take their funds and the $250,000.00 to the provincial government to see if they
would match it toward the Library building.
Source: Cardston Libary - (
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Library History
The history of the Cardston Library dates back to 1903, when W.O. Lee had plans to open a public library. He rented a small building, just north of the Allen Store, which later became known as Laidlaws. In this building he placed his own bookshelves, lamps, heater and furnished nearly 300 books from his own library. These books included one of the earliest editions of the Encyclopedia Britannica and the library became a mine of information.
The early beginning of the library was a community centre and many books were read by the Cardston Pioneers. For three or four years the library was kept open by the Generosity of W.O. Lee.
The Cardston Public Library opened its doors November 16, 1931, in the old Tithing Office where the Cardston Clinic would later be located.
In 2005 the new Cardston library opens its doors as the Jim and Mary Kearl Library.
Great community support as collection and furniture were moved into the new facility and 4 new public access computers were added.
Source: Cardston Library - (
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