The Guelph Public Library (GPL) is sad to share that Virginia Gillham, a founding member of the Friends of the Guelph Public Library, passed away on January 30.

Virginia was a dedicated, energetic, and steadfast supporter of the Library, providing advocacy and fundraising support through her work with the Friends of the Guelph Public Library for 15 years including the popular annual book sale that has raised more than $1,000,000 since 2008.

“The Guelph Public Library is grateful to Virginia for her many years of service and support of the ever-evolving work that libraries do for the community,” says Dan Atkins, CEO of GPL. “We will honour Virginia’s tireless advocacy by carrying forward the spirit of her work by continuing to collaborate with the Friends of the Guelph Public Library.”

Virginia’s passion for libraries came from being a dedicated librarian herself. She worked as the University Librarian and Archivist at Wilfred Laurier University and as the Head of Circulation and Head of Government Documents at the University of Guelph.

During her career as an academic librarian, she was involved with the creation of CODOC, a library classification system for government documents that was developed at the University of Guelph in the 1960s and 1970s. She contributed several journal articles detailing the use of CODOC – or as it was initially known, the Guelph Document System – and how it could be employed in other library systems and used as a consortium tool. 

Outside of her work in library’s, Virginia served on a countless number of local boards and committees including the Guelph Youth Music Centre, the Edward Johnson Music Foundation, the University of Guelph's United Way steering committee, the services committee of the Wellington County Family and Children's Services, the Wellington-Dufferin Homes for Psychiatric Rehabilitation board, and the nominating committee for the Guelph Chapter of the Federation of University Women.

She was a Skate Canada National judge, referee, and mentor and volunteered her time as the church librarian for St. Andrew's Church. In 2012 she was presented with the Mayor's Award for her decades of work as a volunteer and community leader.

Media Contact

Dan Atkins, CEO
Guelph Public Library
548-855-0390
datkins@guelphpl.ca