History
The Wahoo Public Library,
a Foundational Staple of the Community for 100 Years
1,743—that’s the number of the initial collection of the Wahoo Public Library. On March 21st, 1923, The Wahoo Woman’s Club collected those first all-important donations by sending children pulling wagons going door to door. The library still has 12 of the original books collected and can be viewed at the library. For ten years prior, the women had been discussing the need for a library to serve the growing community and in February of 1923, the project was finally underway. With approval from the city council, a portion of the second floor of city hall was put aside for the library which opened in April of that year.
The primary year of operations, the library solely functioned by volunteers. In 1924, public consensus decreed that the library was a civic project and should be supported by a tax levy. The city council agreed and promised to provide utilities and janitorial services. They appointed a library board consisting of Women’s club members. The inaugural board members were Mrs. Oscar Hanson, Mrs. B.E. Hendricks, Miss Minnie Manners, Miss Emma Peterson, and Mrs. John Manners. The first librarian/director to receive a salary in 1924 was Grace Oldham. She served as director for 20 years.
The Wahoo High School’s Manual Training class built the original bookshelves which are still in use today. You can visit them in the bookstore, the children’s area, and the director’s office.
The site of the original library was the corner of 6th and Broadway, where the current city hall, police and fire are now located. The original building was demolished in, we think, 1958 and a new cornerstone was put in place in 1959. The library resided in that space until 2006 when it relocated to its current building at 6th and Maple.
The present building was funded in part by donations to the quilt project that currently hangs in the library. The newest project for the library is to install an inclusive outdoor space with musical instruments for all to participate and enjoy.
Total collection to date: 27,000 items (which does not include the digital collection of 117,000 items)