By Kristie Kirpatrick
Whitman County Library Director 

Library celebrates 75th anniversary

 

Jaycee's Club paints the Colfax Library in 1950 which was located on North Main near the Gazette building.

When Whitman County Library planned the celebration of our 75th anniversary, who would have thought that all 14 branch locations would be closed for business due to a worldwide pandemic? Thankfully, today's technology allows the library to continue providing service through our website and to offer Wi-Fi access surrounding library buildings to area residents who need it.

Still, it's not what we envisioned. Starting in April, the library was set to host community parties in all of our branch libraries. We were looking forward to our small town parades, special programs and more.

Instead, we are forced to delay the parties and share this brief history of how your public library came to be.

In 1944, in a small hamlet surrounded by rolling hills of grain, a big idea was born. Area residents wanted a public library and took it upon themselves to make it happen. A petition containing 300 signatures was delivered to county commissioners and the measure placed on the ballot. Approved by voters that fall, Whitman County Rural Library District officially began offering service in 1945.

The first task was to find a suitable location in downtown Colfax. In a building formerly housing a saloon, the new library boasted dust covered floors and war surplus furniture. Legend has it that many a drunken visitor stumbled into the library searching for libations but leaving with books instead.

By 1948, the district had grown to include 25 branches, located in town halls and railroad sidings across the District's 2,200 square miles. By the 1950's, a bookmobile was added to better serve the sprawling region, bringing books and librarians into branch libraries, schools and people's homes.

In 1960, a new District headquarters was built in downtown Colfax. Designed by acclaimed Spokane Architect Warren Heylman, the futuristic, Mid-Century modern structure was controversial. Many in town were upset by the building's departure from the traditional design of Colfax's Main Street.

Today, residents are extremely proud of the library's curvy, classic style and all the great activities that happen inside. The Colfax Library now boasts an art gallery, event Center, technology lab and more. It is open seven days per week, serving as a hub of activity for the region and district operations.

The district serves nearly 16,000 residents through a network of 14 locations in towns across The Palouse. Each community is unique, yet all have demonstrated a solid commitment to education and their library.

Each branch provides high quality, innovative service that includes quality programs for all ages, diverse materials collections, public computing, technology instruction, Wi-Fi hotspots and access to a multitude of online resources.

The library's website at http://www.whitco.lib.wa.us is now more important than ever. Besides community favorites like free eBooks and the Whitman Community Heritage collection, new products and resources are being updated regularly to help educate and entertain your family during these difficult times.

Most of all, Whitman County Library staff look forward to the day when libraries reopen and all of our lives return to normal. At that time, the 75th anniversary parties can begin.

Until that time, we hope everyone stays healthy and keeps reading.

Credit: Some of this text comes from an article written by Sabrina Jones for Alki Magazine, copyright Dec. 2006.

 

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