LIBRARY HISTORY
MADISON PUBLIC LIBRARY
HISTORY & FACTS
Revised 4-29-03
I. HISTORY
Thoughts for a public library for the city of Madison were first entertained shortly after the turn of the century. With the completion of the usual formalities, a $8,000 appropriation from the fund set apart by Andrew Carnegie was assured to be used for the construction of the library. The mayor and council appointed a committee of citizens to take the matter under advisement.
The first meeting of the committee was on March 20, 1905. The committee selected two sites directly across the street from the opera house as the site for a library building.
It was decided to solicit funds for the library in addition to the local tax levied for the purpose. The city obligated itself, under the terms of the Carnegie agreement, to annually raise eight hundred dollars for maintenance.
The present library building was designed by architect Butler of Minneapolis in Gothic Doric style. Gerhard Herriges, a leading contractor for public buildings in Western Minnesota, contracted to build for $6,216.85. Ed Hegland did the painting and interior decorating.
The dedication of the library, January 22, 1906, created a wave of interest resulting in anonymous donations of $1,000 and gifts of books from local people. With the courthouse and city hall, the library stands as one of the three important buildings remaining in use, combining beauty and utility as well as conveying a sense of pride in Madison's history. The library is on the National Register of Historic Sites.
Mrs. Ingeborg Jerde was the first librarian. She also served as janitor, took care of the lawn, put on and took off the screens and the storm windows. In 1907 the librarian received a salary of $30 per month.
In July 1977 the City Council of Madison, representing the Carnegie Library, and the Commissioners of Lac qui Parle County voted to join the consolidated Western Plains Library System. This enabled the sharing of all materials between libraries within the library system and gave free access for all residents to the materials in all libraries in the entire state. In 1983 the Commissioners of Lac qui Parle County voted to leave the library system. The law required two or more counties to belong to any given system. When LqP left, Western Plains was short a county and was forced to look at consolidation with another system. Western Plains Library System and Crow River Regional Library System joined forces to create the now existing Pioneerland Library System. With the recommendation of the Madison Library Board, the City Council of Madison, representing the Carnegie Library, voted to join the Pioneerland Library System. In July of 1989 Lac qui Parle County once again joined the library system.
The original name of the library was the Carnegie Library. In 1990, the Library Board voted to change the name to Madison Public Library.
STATISTICS FOR 1991
In 1991 it is estimated that 19,500 people used our library which is an average of 62 people a day. In that one year our total circulation increased over 4,000 articles. We checked out 9,628 adult books and 14,212 juvenile books. We filled 1126 requests from other libraries and checked out 4773 videos.
We had 1766 library card holders.
STATISTICS for 1993
The Madison Library is continuing to grow despite the inconvenience of the stairs both inside and outside the building. The annual Circulation Statistics for 1993 show a total of 46,894 materials checked out of the Library. This is an 18.9% increase over 1992. There was a 52.1% increase over the 1989 figures and a 55.7% increase over 1984! We had the fourth highest percentage of change in the Pioneerland System.
Head Librarian: Kathie Behrens
1993 Circulation: 46,894
Library Card Holders: 951
Staff: 4 (1.80 FTE)
Annual Attendance 1993: 23,680
Program Attendance 1993: 146
1994 Budget: $47,300
Library Building: 3,200 square feet
Construction Date: 1905
II. FUNDING
The Madison Library is funded by a combination of state, federal, and local (property tax) funds. The Federal and State money is used to fund Pioneerland Library system services, specifically administration and clerical support, delivery service, the processing center, and support of the On-line card catalog. LQP County and the city of Madison are requested to provide funds to operate the library. Funding generated from the city and county is sent to PLS quarterly and used to pay staff costs of running the library as well as to purchase materials and supplies. In addition to the monies sent to PLS, Madison has a local budget for purchasing materials and capital equipment. This budget falls under the control of the local library board and librarian.
The librarian of the Madison Library works diligently shopping for sales on materials and researching different companies from which to purchase materials and supplies in order to get the best discount. The Library Board has conducted fundraisers to earn money to help with the capital expenses of the library and to purchase badly needed reference materials such as "International Wildlife Encyclopedia" and "Family Health Encyclopedia". The library board held fundraisers to purchase the first computer and printer for the library.
III. IMPROVEMENTS
Many changes took place in 1989 and 1990. Three four drawer file cabinets were added for the vertical file pamphlets, all the paperbacks were inventoried and alphabetized and a card file was created for them. New shelves were built and added to provide room for the paperback books. Because of a bequest in the will of a former Madison resident, and donations from the American Legion and VFW, we were able to purchase nine sections of shelving for the lower level. All the books in the non?fiction section of the library were moved to the lower level. The non?fiction books included all reference materials such as encyclopedias, past issue magazines, Readers Guide to Periodicals, Minnesota Statutes and Laws and other reference material. The move created more space for new and existing fiction books on the main level. In 1991 the Library Board voted to donate all the old bound newspapers and shelving to the Historical Society. New shelving was built in the space vacated by the newspapers and shelves. In 1991, the Library Board and staff worked on two fundraisers. The money from these fundraisers plus donations from the Madison American Legion, the Madison VFW, and the Aid Association for Lutherans and Attorney Wallace Jackson helped us purchase our first computer, printer, and monitor. Three computers designed to replace the then outdated COM catalog terminals (catalogs on microfilm) were purchased in 1994. These computers had our card catalog on CD Rom and were updated four times a year. They were for public use for catalog searches, word processing and internet. In 1993 alarms were installed on both outside doors and some of the electrical wiring was updated eliminating multiple usages on one outlet.
IV. PURPOSE
The primary mission of the Madison Library is to serve the citizens of the region as a source of information. We provide up to date educational and recreational reading, listening and viewing materials. Programs are scheduled for adults and children that will promote an educated citizenry and enrich personal lives. These materials and programs are provided to help meet the educational, informational, cultural, and recreational needs of the city and county. We also provide services, such as film projector rental, which cannot be met elsewhere.
V. CITIZENS SERVED
Madison Public Library serves all persons of all ages in both the city and in Lac qui Parle County. We work to supply services to the handicapped with book deliveries to nursing homes, hospitals and apartment complexes which house senior citizens and shut-ins. We have also started a home delivery service to shut?ins. We have Large Print books, books on cassette and books of CD for those with reading limitations.
History of building project 2000-2001
REVIEW OF THE LIBRARY BUILDING PROJECT
1. Many meetings with the community and surveys were done over the last 10 years. Many new and remodeled libraries were visited to see their layout and how a library could look.
2. Many meetings were held with the City Council to find out what their directives were.
3. Many Sites were measured and considered for new and remodeled buildings, including the Legion and the end of the school.
4. An agreement with the City council was held where they appropriated $250,000 toward a building project of $500,000 for a total cost.
5. A professional evaluation of the "Library Needs Assessment" was done to determine what was needed for our library as it is now and for long term growth.
6. City Council approved hiring Vetter-Johnson architecture firm to draw up building plans. They drew up two building plans which the City Council deemed too costly.
7. City Council approved hiring a second architect (Sabongi). He drew up three plans: 1. Remodeling and a one floor addition; 2, remodeling and a two floor addition; and 3, a new building on an empty site.
8. The Library Board recommends option three, a new building on the old Lac qui Parle site for several reasons.
1. We would have approximately
6000 square feet of space at the cost allowed of $500,000. The space we have
now is about 1200 feet on each floor.
2. One level has no elevator maintenance costs.
3. There would be a public meeting room & public restrooms on Main Street,
easily accessible.
4. The monies saved in renovation and remodeling would be put into library services
used by the public.
5. There would be no cost in relocating and moving the library two times while
renovation and adding to the building are being accomplished.
6. No need to alter the present historical nature of the Carnegie building which
can be used for a variety of other uses without changing the interior or exterior
uniqueness of the building.
7. Less cost for staffing.
8. This plan would provide an information/media center for Madison as well as
the surrounding rural area.
9. This is the most cost effective for the amount of space needed.
10. We are building a library for the future needs of the library and it's people.
11. The library in this town is a SUCCESS. A new library building builds in
room for growth of all kinds, in all areas. We need to be able to change to
meet the needs of the future users of the library.
On August 14, 2000, at the
regular Council meeting, the City Council had a tied vote of 3 to 3 to remodel
and add an addition onto the present building. The Mayor, Loren Noeldner, broke
the vote and sealed the fate of the library by voting to remodel and add an
addition to the present building. The City pledged $250,000 toward this project.
An additional $150,000 is coming from an accessibility grant from the Minnesota
Department of Children, Families and learning which requires matching funds
and an additional $150,000 has to be earned by a fundraising group. The City
Council approved a $500,000 project.
The total cost of the project was………..
Architect Fred Sabongi with Sabongi Consulting Group, Inc. in Eagan Minnesota. The contractor was Mark Peters with Peters Construction in Montevideo.
Remodel and addition Date:
2001
Open House for new/addition June 2002
History of the building project from 1990 to 2001.
Since the early 1990's it has been suggested to build new or remodel the present building with an addition. The present building has not been kept in good repair for several years, is over crowded and does not meet the ADA requirements. There have been several planning meetings with community and surveys sent out to see what the public was interested in doing with the public library. Several board members and city council members visited other libraries for ideas.
Several sites were measured and considered for a new or a remodeled building including the Legion, west end of the school, city hall and an addition to the present building that would require the house next door to be moved.
A professional evaluation of the "Library Needs Assessment" was finished on August 11, 1998, to determine what was needed for our library as it is now and for long term growth. The new library needs to be a multi media building to meet the needs of the public.
The city council hired Vetter-Johnson architecture firm to draw up building plans. The firm drew up two building plans and an estimate for the west end of the school building. The city council deemed this all too costly. September 1999,Vetter-Johnson was not interested in redoing their plans to a less costly building.
On October 20, 1999, the library board met with Fred Sabongi of Sabongi Consulting Group Inc. of Eagen, MN to set up preliminary requests and meetings for new drawings. On November 15, 1999, the library board met with Fred Sabongi and he agreed to draw up plans to meet the city council limit of $250,000 from the city with $250,000 to be matched by the library for a total cost of $500,000. Mr. Sabongi will draw up three plans including a two story addition to the west of the present library building, a one story addition to the west of the library with future plans to add to the north of the library and build a new library on a lot owned by the city.
The library board recommended
building a new building on the Lac qui Parle Hotel site for the following reasons.
1. We would have approximately 6000 square feet of space at the cost allowed
of $500,000. The space we have now is about 1200 feet on each floor.
2. One level has no elevator maintenance costs.
3. There would be a public meeting room and public restrooms on main street.
4. The monies saved in renovation and remodeling would be put into library services
used by the public.
5. There would be no cost in relocating and moving the library two times while
renovation and adding to the building are being accomplished.
6. No need to alter present historical nature of the library building which
can be used for a variety of other uses.
7. Less cost for staffing.
8. This plan would provide an information/media center for Madison and the surround
area.
9. This is the most cost effective for the amount of space needed
10. We are building a library for the future needs of the library and its people.
11. The library in this town is a success. A new library building builds in
room for growth of all kinds, in all areas. We need to be able to change to
meet the needs of the future users of the library.
On August 14, 2000, at the regular Council meeting, the City Council voted 4
to 3 to remodel and add an addition onto the present building. The City pledged
$250,000 toward this project. An additional $150,000 is coming form an accessibility
grant from the Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning which
requires matching funds. $150,000 has to be earned by a fund raising group.
The City Council approved a $500,000 project.
A fund raising committee of Norma Larson, Sherry Bryant, Maynard Meyer, Eva Stacy, Marlys Olson and Scottie Kuehl will be formed. The group has hired Boris Frank as a professional fund raiser. This was in the minutes of the February 26, 2001, meeting. April 18, 2001, will be ground breaking for the remodeling project.
The May 21, 2001, meeting was held at the temporary location for the library. Many of the books were in storage. $80,000 has been raised by the fund raising group.
Kathie has found free or discounted shelving and furniture from several libraries in the cities and St. Cloud that could be used in our building to save costs. From the minutes of June 18, 2001.
The open house was Saturday, June 8, 2002.
Downloadable versions available for both the HISTORY and the BUILDING HISTORY