The Times
By Denise Karst, Times Correspondent
Published April 10, 1988
The Towanda City Council and Towanda dedication and Open House Sunday, at the new City Library, located at 6209 Highland.
Leonard Albert, city mayor, opened the ceremony by welcoming everyone. Albert introduced the North Street Singers from Towanda Elementary School and they performed "Promised Land" under the direction of Beverly McWilliams, Towanda Elementary's vocal instructor.
Special guest at Sunday's dedication was Leroy Gattan, director of South Central Kansas Library Systems and Paul Hawkings, assistant director of SCKL.
Hawkins and Gattan congratulated Towanda for its optimism and investment in their library and schools.
Maxine Hinnen, president of Towanda Nokomis Club, spoke on the founding of Towanda first library. Mrs. Hinnen explained that in 1935 a group of "young, energetic ladies of the Towanda community" gathered together under the guidance of the Federal EMB Club. Laura Mae Pyle was the first president.
In 1936, they became a Federated Club. As they joined the Federated Women's Clubs, they began looking for a community need. They decided to establish a library in Towanda. Mrs. Hinnen said there were many long, hard struggles. Many bake sales were held and the club donated their own books and asked citizens of Towanda to donate books, too. They were offered a shelf in a drug store downtown for their books.
The dream of the library materialized, Dec. 19, 1936, when the Towanda library was opened for the first time and run by the Nokomis Club members, each taking turns donating their time.
By Denise Karst, Times Correspondent
Published April 10, 1988
The Towanda City Council and Towanda dedication and Open House Sunday, at the new City Library, located at 6209 Highland.
Leonard Albert, city mayor, opened the ceremony by welcoming everyone. Albert introduced the North Street Singers from Towanda Elementary School and they performed "Promised Land" under the direction of Beverly McWilliams, Towanda Elementary's vocal instructor.
Special guest at Sunday's dedication was Leroy Gattan, director of South Central Kansas Library Systems and Paul Hawkings, assistant director of SCKL.
Hawkins and Gattan congratulated Towanda for its optimism and investment in their library and schools.
Maxine Hinnen, president of Towanda Nokomis Club, spoke on the founding of Towanda first library. Mrs. Hinnen explained that in 1935 a group of "young, energetic ladies of the Towanda community" gathered together under the guidance of the Federal EMB Club. Laura Mae Pyle was the first president.
In 1936, they became a Federated Club. As they joined the Federated Women's Clubs, they began looking for a community need. They decided to establish a library in Towanda. Mrs. Hinnen said there were many long, hard struggles. Many bake sales were held and the club donated their own books and asked citizens of Towanda to donate books, too. They were offered a shelf in a drug store downtown for their books.
The dream of the library materialized, Dec. 19, 1936, when the Towanda library was opened for the first time and run by the Nokomis Club members, each taking turns donating their time.
Naomi's food and candy sales helped finance the traveling library which was send for in September of 1937, less than one year after it opened.
Mrs. Hinnen explained that the method of running the library did not prove satisfactory and the library was closed Jan. 2, 1939.
Later a library council was formed consisting of the representative from the city council, the EMB Club, Farm Bureau and Nokomis Club. This was the first library board. In March of 1953, a librarian was hired. Ruth Watson, the first librarian, was paid $2 an afternoon.
Mrs. Hinnen said a summer reading program was formed and Katherine Richey won the first honor for reading the most library books during the summer. A Story house was started and a sign identifying the library was put up.The library was making progress. It was expanding its services rapidly. Mrs. Hinnen said a first-time charge of 5 cents a week on overdue books was charged.
In1959 the library was added to the City budget. The population of Towanda was 992 people. The wages of the librarian were increased to $3 an afternoon.
The City of Towanda took over the library on Feb. 1, 1961. In 1965, the budget was $895. The total budge this year was $6300.
Mrs. Hinnen said that on Aug. 4, 1967, the library joined the South Central Kansas Library System. Story hour was resumed in 1977 by the Aquarius Club. The library was insured for the first time in 1973. In 1985, Hinnen said the library books were officially audited for the first time.
Mrs. Hinnen said the library had many moves in its lifetime and now it is home to stay on 6th and Highland. It officially opened Dec. 14, 1987. Hours are 2 to 6 P.m.Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Mrs. Hinnen said that at the end of 1987, the library had more than 10,000 books on hand. There were 6,247 items checked out and 588 card holders.
Following Mrs. Hinnen's speech, Mayor Leonard Albert recognized Ed Random, who donated the sculpture he constructed to the Towanda Library, and placed it in front of the library; and the art class at Circle High School, who constructed the Library's sign. The Library Board was also introduced. Dedication Ceremony was ended with the North Street Singers singing, "Kids Are Special." - Ending coverage from Denise Karst for The Times.
Mrs. Hinnen explained that the method of running the library did not prove satisfactory and the library was closed Jan. 2, 1939.
Later a library council was formed consisting of the representative from the city council, the EMB Club, Farm Bureau and Nokomis Club. This was the first library board. In March of 1953, a librarian was hired. Ruth Watson, the first librarian, was paid $2 an afternoon.
Mrs. Hinnen said a summer reading program was formed and Katherine Richey won the first honor for reading the most library books during the summer. A Story house was started and a sign identifying the library was put up.The library was making progress. It was expanding its services rapidly. Mrs. Hinnen said a first-time charge of 5 cents a week on overdue books was charged.
In1959 the library was added to the City budget. The population of Towanda was 992 people. The wages of the librarian were increased to $3 an afternoon.
The City of Towanda took over the library on Feb. 1, 1961. In 1965, the budget was $895. The total budge this year was $6300.
Mrs. Hinnen said that on Aug. 4, 1967, the library joined the South Central Kansas Library System. Story hour was resumed in 1977 by the Aquarius Club. The library was insured for the first time in 1973. In 1985, Hinnen said the library books were officially audited for the first time.
Mrs. Hinnen said the library had many moves in its lifetime and now it is home to stay on 6th and Highland. It officially opened Dec. 14, 1987. Hours are 2 to 6 P.m.Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Mrs. Hinnen said that at the end of 1987, the library had more than 10,000 books on hand. There were 6,247 items checked out and 588 card holders.
Following Mrs. Hinnen's speech, Mayor Leonard Albert recognized Ed Random, who donated the sculpture he constructed to the Towanda Library, and placed it in front of the library; and the art class at Circle High School, who constructed the Library's sign. The Library Board was also introduced. Dedication Ceremony was ended with the North Street Singers singing, "Kids Are Special." - Ending coverage from Denise Karst for The Times.
Photos of Library located at 314 Main, Towanda:
Photos of Library at 620 Highland upon opening:
The Ed Rando Art Installation was painted:
