While a small, private library operated in the rear of a local drugstore in the early 1900s, the first plans for a public library were developed in 1966. A committee was organized, regular meetings were held, and money was raised to purchase a building. Books were donated, and volunteers spent three months improving the building with new paint, shelving, ceiling tiles, a water fountain and more. The library opened to the public in 1967 with Agnes Cleveland as the first librarian.
In addition to a large book collection, the library now offers DVDs, copy service, and computer/internet access. The library is open five days each week.
In 1974, members of the local women’s club formed a committee to investigate the possibility of opening a library in the Benton County town of Atkins. The club sponsored a number of fundraisers to purchase equipment and materials, while residents stepped up to donate books for the new library. The first library officially opened on March 25, 1975, in the basement of the Atkins Telephone Company. After 14 years, the library moved across the street to a standalone location; it remains there today.
The first library in the Tama County town of Garwin opened its doors on August 29, 1936, with teas and wafers served throughout the afternoon to celebrate the occasion. Sharing space with a local dentist office, the library’s collection grew to 1,600 books within seven months with as many as 65 books checked out each day. The library was run exclusively by volunteers for over two decades, until a part-time librarian was hired in 1958. The library moved to its present location in March 1960. It continues to serve the community, open five days each week.
The first account of library services in the Fayette County of Arlington dates to 1883, when resident O.H. Osborne made his personal collection of books available to readers within the town’s post office. Books were later stored in a downtown jewelry store before the community came together in 1928 to remodel a room for library use in the City Hall. The present building was constructed in 1982 at a cost around $62,000. A grant covered one-third of the cost, with the remaining funds raised from donations by local citizens and organizations. The 1,800-square-foot building was dedicated November 21, 1982.
The Cherokee Public Library was organized by a group of twelve local women in 1886 and officially operated out of a permanent space in 1898. By January 1903, Cherokee had received confirmation of a $10,000 grant awarded by the Andrew Carnegie Foundation. The grant was increased by $2,000 the following year, and the new building was formally dedicated and opened in April 1905. A significant expansion project added two floors to the rear of the building in October 1998. The library is open six days a week to serve residents in Cherokee and the surrounding area.
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