History: History of the Eau Claire Public Library, Eau Claire, WI, 1860 ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Nance Sampson 16 March 1999 ==================================================================== City One of First in State to Establish Public Library, Association Organized in 1860 Pioneer residents of Eau Claire were among the first in the state to consider the necessity of a public library and on Jan. 19, 1860 the Eau Claire Library Association was formed. The president was D. H. Ketchum. Other officers were Nelson Wilcox, vice-president; Charles Howard, secretary; and H. C. Putnam, librarian. The board of trustees was composed of Thomas Barland, T. Tinker and R. Russell. A bookcase was procured. Books were approved and the library opened in the store of Mahlen and Putnam on Eau Claire St. The original bookcase, handmade of rough hewn lumber, is still in existance and is now the possession of the Chippewa Valley Historical Society. In 1875, Mayor George A. Buffington appointed the directors of the library board. Included were H. C. Howland, president; J. F. Dudley, vice-president; and Francis Woodward, secretary. It was at this time that the women of the city became influential in library matters when Howland appointed a women's advisory committee. It was composed of the Mmes. H. C. Putnam, G. E. Porter, S. S. Kidder, G. S. French, J. T. Tinker, O. H. Ingram and Robert Tolles. The board petitioned the mayor for money to rent a suitable reading room. And at the council meeting of May 13, 1875, the council meeting was "interrupted by the rustle of silk and the waving of plumes as the ladies advisory group and friends were escorted to front seats." Their influence must have been profound on the astonished councilmen because on Oct. 26, 1875, the Eau Claire City Library opened and 125 books were donated. Edna Sears was hired as librarian for $30 a month. In 1882 the total fines were $19.18. In 1894 the library was moved to the corner of Grand Ave. and Farwell St. in the Ingram building (rent free). By 1890 there were 14,370 volumes and the childrens' room contained 2,000 books. Branches were established in the Nineth Ward with 300 volumes, a Shawtown branch in the Fourthe Ward School and in 1901 a room was leased in the Burgar building for a children's library. Grant Received In 1902, a W. J. Starr wrote Andrew Carnegie and was granted $40,000 for a buildin if a suitable location was found. Carnegie added the stipulation that $4,000 must be spent each year for maintenance. A battle resolved between factions on the east and west sides for the site. On May 7, 1902 the library board selected the present site (in 1968 -- now located at 400 Eau Claire St.) at E. Grand Ave. and S. Farwell St. The cornerstone was laid in June 16, 1903, and the library opened April 21, 1904. In 1907 service was started to the elementary schools and in 1908 a county library was formed in conjuction with the main library. In 1925 the main floor became so croweded that it was necessary to move the children's room to the basement. Service to the junior high school was started in 1928 and in 1935 it was the first library in the state to use charging machines. New lights were installed in 1952 and a new roof was put on in 1953. The children's room was moved back upstairs in 1955. On July 1, 1961, the library discontinued its service to the schools which formed their own library system. Today (1968) the library offers many services to the public. It has a collection of reference material, and trained personnel to research questions. It contains historical materials relative to Eau Claire and maintains adult servies offering reader's guidance to individuals and groups. It has a record collection of a wide range as does the children's library in the basement. The library receives more than 250 periodicals and 16 newspapers. Back files are kept for one, five or 10 years. It carries the Eau Claire newspapers on microfilm from beginning of publication to date. Recently the library acquired a framed art reproductions collection. The 75 reproductions are loaned to patrons for periods of six weeks. The Eau Claire library is headquarters for the Tri-Valley Library System which is financed with federal funds. Its services include inter-library loan, reference materials, book enrichment, rotating collections of books and recordings plus an in-service training program. In 1967 a total of 3401 new borrowersmade use of the Eau Claire Library. These included 2,197 adults and 1,204 children. The total number of registered borrowers is 15,949. The circulation in 1967 included 121,540 to adults; 79,913 to juveniles for a total circulation fo 201,453. In addition 635 made use of the photocopy machine; 382 used the microfilm; 8,319 records were borrowed; 80 pictures were circulated and 9,973 reference questions were answered. During the past year (1968) it added 7,374 new volumes and withdrew from circulation 1,369 books. The total collection of volumes numbers 81,202. Richard Rademacher has been the library director since May 2, 1966. Members of the present library board (in 1968) include Edward Page, president; Dr. Katherine Stewart, vice-president; Frances Wilcox, secretary; George Losby, city council representative; Homer DeLong, superintendent of schools; Trygve Ager, Dr. John Morris, Willard Fantle and John Proctor. --Taken from the Eau Claire Leader / The Daily Telegram, Progress Edition, 1968