Dorothy R. Shoemaker

Dorothy Shoemaker was born in Berlin (Kitchener) in 1906. She graduated from University College at the University of Toronto and later from the library science course at Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.

She began her library service in Kitchener as a part-time helper in the children’s department and later specialized in reference work. After becoming chief librarian in 1944, many new services were added, including a bookmobile service to area schools. Her tenacious crusade of seventeen years for a new library building, resulted in its opening in 1962. She retired from the Library in 1971.

She was a charter member of the Canadian Library Association, president of the Ontario Library Association, president of the KW branch of the Canadian Federation of University Women and a member of the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery board. To honour Dorothy on her retirement, the Library Board named their literary awards the Dorothy Shoemaker Literary Awards to encourage and recognize the creative writing of children, young people and adults. In July 1996, an anonymous gift of an endowment fund, to be administered by the Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation, assured the perpetuation of the awards.