Rapid City Public Library Rapid City, South Dakota Helen Hoyt, Head Librarian

Books have always been an important part of the culture of a community. This fact is evident in a newspaper story taken from the Annals of Early Rapid City, February 22, 1879. "We understand a movement is on foot in Rapid City... The ladies, we understand, are willing to inaugurate a series of entertainments to realize enough to purchase a full set of encyclopedia works - which alone would be a good foundation for a public library. Let us, by all means, have a public library. "

Two years later plans were underway for the construction of a building. Six citizens offered building sites. The one accepted reads as follows:" John R. Brennan, 50 feet off from the front of 5 lots on and near the northwest corner of the 6th and Kansas City streets, 50 by 125 feet." The contract was forfeited in March and it was April before actual construction on Library Hall was begun. The flag was raised from the roof in May. The first book ordered was sent in December 1882 to the Jensen, McClurg, and company in Chicago. This first library was dependent on voluntary financial support.

Library records show little activity in the next few years. In the early 1900s the Current Event club of Rapid City initiated the effort for the establishment of a public librarian for Rapid City, which would be city tax supported. A committee of three women were appointed to visit the City Council and ask that the question of a tax be submitted to the borders of Rapid City. At the April 21, 1903 city election, the question was submitted and carried by a majority of 33 votes. The City Council levied a tax and the school board appointed a library committee and a regular required under the law. The committee decided to wait until year's tax had accumulated before the opening of the library. The library hall was no longer used as a library.

A room downtown was eventually located, various donations of books accepted, and a librarian appointed. The opening date was August 3, 1904.

Eleven years later the library had 3,136 volumes, a circulation of 9,137 and 1,000 registered borrowers. Plans were being formulated for the construction of a new Andrew Carnegie library building. This new building was open to the public February 24, 1960. Although it no longer houses a library, this building is still in use. During the thirties wings were added and a children's room built up in the basement. A collection of books is not enough. The people who bring these books and their readers together are another valuable part of library picture. Rose Bower, Laura Van Nuys, Leora Lewis, and Marjorie Smith played important roles in the development of the Rapid City Public Library.