A Brief History of the Library
In the fall of 1920, a group of civic-minded citizens met at the home of
Mrs. S. H. Abbott, with Mayor John L. Ballif presiding to discuss the
establishment of a public library in Rexburg.
A committee of five ladies was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws of the
Rexburg Improvement League, which was to have as its main objectives the
establishment of a library and other civic improvements. Members of the
committee were Mrs. Abbott, Mrs. L. F. Rich, Mrs. C. W. Poole, Mrs. C. A. Walfrom,
and Mrs. Parley Nelson.
The results of that organization were as follows: The county commissioners gave the
use of two connecting rooms in the courthouse; the Commercial Club donated tables
and chairs; the City Council voted to donate $25 per month for the librarian's
salary; and the school superintendent cooperated in a drive for books which
gathered 800 books, many of which were suitable for the library. Mrs. Parley
Nelson was appointed librarian.
Library Opens
On December 28, 1921, the library was opened to the public with 500 books on
the shelves.
The name of the Rexburg Improvement League changed to Rexburg Improvement Club
and then to Rexburg Civic Improvement Club. In 1927, these ladies initiated a
rummage sale which became an annual event, netting approximately $350 each year
for the library.
With the growing number of books and patron use of the library, a separate
building was needed. By order of the Madison County Commissioners, on September
8, 1958, the library was formed into the Madison County Free Library
District, which was described as all property in Madison County except property
in School District No. 322. With this new stimulus, the ladies of the Civic Club
began an all-out drive to raise the funds for a library building. Local contractor
and engineer Richard Davis and his father, David Davis, donated their expertise
and labor to this $35,000 project. The city of Rexburg donated a lot next to city
hall on North Center Street, and the community got behind the energetic leadership
of the Civic Club women.
The fund-raising was under the direction of Trustee Chairman, Lola Webster. On
February 22, 1961, the new building was dedicated. In 1968, the basement of the
building was remodeled to accommodate a children's library. Little did anyone dream
that in fifteen short years another library building would be needed.
Flood Destroys Building
With the collapse of the Teton Dam on June 5, 1976, the flood waters so badly
damaged the library building that it had to be demolished. The furniture and
most of the collection were also destroyed. The Federal Disaster Assistance
Administration sent crews to survey the damage, and together with Mrs. Geraldine
Jacobs, Librarian, and Gale D. Reeser, Ricks College Librarian, costs of the
building, furniture, and collection were estimated. FDAA agreed to replace
everything lost in the flood.
A 12,000 square foot building with basement storage was designed and built at
a cost of $405,667. Besides government reimbursement, grants were obtained from
the State Library and the Economic Development Administration. A new site was
obtained across the street on North Center for the building.
Within two weeks of the flood, a temporary library was set up in the Ricks
College Library and an upstairs room turned over to the staff for ordering and
cataloging new materials. In September, the staff moved into temporary quarters
in the remodeled City Hall. Over 35,000 books were sent in trucks from Utah,
which proved to be a gigantic task of sorting for those suitable for library
use. The others were given away to families who had lost their collections
in the flood.
The new library on the corner of North Center and First North was dedicated on
July 27, 1978. The new community meeting room was named the Lola M. Webster Room
in recognition of her many years of long service on the library board.
Computerization
In 1983, the library joined with the Idaho Falls and Pocatello Public Libraries
to obtain cataloging and circulation software for the use of computers
in the library. In 1991, public access terminals were added for patron use, making
the card catalog obsolete. A Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant bought five
computers for public internet access in 2000.
Also in 2000, it was determined the collection had outgrown the allotted space,
and the Webster Room was remodeled to house the children's section. This meant
the library no longer had a meeting room for public use.
The library was again the recipient of funding in 2005 courtesy of the Gates
Foundation, replacing four aging public computers. And in May of 2006 the Madison
Library District became the first library in Southeastern Idaho to install
a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, including a self-checkout
station for patron use. Public response was immediate and very positive. Another Gates
Foundation grant in 2007 added five more public internet computers, bringing the total
to 13. In November 2007 the Madison Library installed its own computer software, Horizon from
SirsiDynix, to manage cataloging and circulation of the collection.
Expansion
Beginning at the turn of the 21st century, discussion began in earnest regarding the need
for a larger library to serve the ever growing population of the district. Several sites were
investigated but none seemed suitable. Late in 2007, it was determined the Idaho Code would not
permit the district to bond for enough to build a new building.
At a special meeting of the board
of trustees on January 2, 2008, it was the unanimous decision of the board to proceed with a
bond election to expand and remodel the current library building. Architects, bond counsel, and
bond financial advisors were hired. During preparation for the bond election, it was discovered
the official name of the library district had not been changed from the Madison Country Free
Library District, so a legal name change to that of the Madison Library District was effected.
On August 5, 2008, a successful election was held in which 1,400 people voted overwhelmingly to
approve a $3.92 million bond to expand and remodel the current library. The tally was 1,041 votes or 74.36%
in favor, with 359 votes or 25.64% against the bond.
Cheryl Reeser, Director, March 2, 1992
Revised and Amended by Judith M. Dewey, Director,
August 8, 2008
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