By Mike Armstrong
Reporter, Carbon County Comet
“It is a really big deal and very important,” Lindy Glode, a board member for the Carbon County Library System.”We are so lucky to have these libraries and we should celebrate their 100th anniversary.
Glode said libraries were considered to be established some years before they actually were in Carbon County.
According to the Carbon County Library System (CCLS) website, “In April 1922, a few Rawlins women, members of the Philanthropic Educational Organization (P. E.O.) and wives of the members of the Lions Club, got together and began what was called ‘The Rawlins Reading Room, ‘ located in the Osborne Building,” The CCLS website pointed out. It continued, “Interested persons could visit the Reading Room and choose from 800 books which were solicited and collected through a ‘sort of house-to-house drive.” Within 6 months, 1214 books had been checked out and by the end of the next year that number had reached 3434, with 1148 books to choose from.”
Glode, who was a Carbon County Commissioner for 5 years (2013 to 2018) is familiar with how important libraries are to the County and its residents.
“We have been planning this celebration,” Glode said. “The Carbon County Library Foundation will be paying for the upcoming events at the different branches.”
A 100 years is a long time and the celebration warranted.
The library system came into fruition on September 2, 1924, when the “Reading Room” had its name changed to the Rawlins Public Library.
According to the CCLS website, “Then in January 1925, inquiries were made to the Wyoming State Library concerning the advisability of organizing a county library in Rawlins. A committee of citizens met with the County Commissioners with the idea of locating the library within the new high school building, which was being constructed at that time. That building was later to become known as the Carbon Building, where the library is located today.”
Glode said that besides the Library Foundation coming up with funds to pay for this historic event, organizations like Friends of the Library are instrumental in helping fund these stations of learning.
“I am pretty passionate about libraries being in Carbon County and this 100-year celebration lets everybody know how amazing the history is,” Glode said. “This celebration is very positive for the County and its people.”
December 1 became the founding date due to a temporary arrangement that was made on December 1, 1925. The Carbon County Public Library came into being.
According to the CCLS website, “Over the next few years, branch libraries sprang up in Hanna, Saratoga and Encampment, along with up to 17 deposit stations scattered throughout the county in places like Baggs, Dixon, Savery, Pedro, Walcott, Leo, Fort Steele, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow, and Seminoe Dam. In 1937, there were over 9600 books available, with a checkout rate of 42,960 per year. Thirty-six magazines were available, including Colliers, Good Housekeeping, Life, National Geographic, Popular Mechanics, Reader’s Digest and Time,” CCLS said. The site continued, “County taxes provided $5267.08 that year. On the 15th anniversary of the founding of the Library, an organizational meeting was held to form ‘Friends of the Carbon County Library.’ The purpose was not only to foster interest in the library, but to sponsor a movement for a new library location. The high school was growing and needed the room, which the library had also outgrown, having 9042 books and 50 magazines and newspapers. It was time for a new building.
Talks began in June 1938, which laid the plans for a joint city-county building, also housing the Carbon County Library. Such a building would be funded by a Public Works grant. The 53-year-old county jail had been determined to be unsafe and the city was conducting business in an old shack.’ Library circulation had increased to 48,914 books and magazines. However, in July, the County Commissioners discouraged the plan, primarily not wanting to cause confusion over the ownership and identity of the two governmental bodies.
Work began on the new county courthouse, library and jail building in the spring of 1939. On March 20, 1940, the library was opened to the public in the new location—the west half of the ground floor of the Courthouse Building. Evening hours were made available for the first time. Open hours were 12:30-5:30 and 7-9 weekdays and 10-5:30 on Saturdays.”
Glode explained that the Carbon County Library System was established in 1925 under state statute and is governed by a Board of Trustees consisting of five members who are appointed by the Carbon County Commissioners for a term of three years each.
Libraries are noted to be an American invention.
Although when they first started to be established, it was often by churches and parishes. The first public library was founded in Boston, although the date swings between 1711 and 1725.
President John Adams started the Library of Congress. When it was burned by the British in 1814, Thomas Jefferson sold his collection to Congress to replenish the burned books.
Andrew Carnegie, the wealthy industrialist, probably contributed the most to the libraries in the United States and around the world. He built a total of 2509 libraries by 1933 and 1689 were in the U.S.
Carnegie envisioned that libraries would “bring books and information to all people.”
Over the years, they have.
Glode pointed out how important libraries are to towns.
“They are a part of civilization,” Glode said. “They bring so much to a community. Their importance cannot be understated.”
The celebration will be held over two weeks, where different branches will have events.
December 2, the Carbon County Library hosts a celebration that will include County Commissioners recognizing the 100 years and a cake cutting ceremony and a time capsule burying. This will happen between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.
The other branches will have celebrations that will be unique, yet still have the cake cutting and time capsule events.
Encampment will host their celebration December 3, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Medicine Bow will host their celebration December 4, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Elk Mountain will host their celebration December 9, from 12 to 2 p.m.
Little Snake River Valley will host their celebration December 10, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Saratoga will host their celebration December 11, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Hanna will host their celebration December 12, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Authors Craig Johnson and C.J. Box will be celebrating with book signings and Linda Fleming will be speaking at Little Snake River Valley on Baggs over the years.
Fleming will speak December 10, from 12 to 2 p.m.
Box will be in Saratoga December 11, from 4 to 6 p.m.
Johnson will be in Rawlins on December 5, from 5 to 8 p.m., during a Roaring 20s Costume Party.
Glode is happy with what the branches are doing and she wants people to enjoy their libraries on what they have to offer, not only on these special days, but also in the year to come.
“This is a positive milestone and we should enjoy it,” Glode said. “I also want to thank all the 60-plus businesses that have supported us to get this celebration going. The board is so grateful. Their contributions prove how important libraries are to the communities and that they understand this.”
A 100 years is quite the accomplishment for any organization to reach and it is hoped, the CCLS will be around for another 100 still serving all branches.
