History
The Spearville Library opened for the first time in Spearville on February 2, 1929. The various women’s clubs that were in existence in the city had formed a federation in March of 1925 and called the new organization the Council of Clubs. The goals of the federation were “mutual helpfulness and united action on measures conducive to public welfare.” The women chose to sponsor, begin and support a much-needed library as their main project.
To earn money for the project, the women worked together on the compilation of the first council’s cook book. This was published in 1926.
Meanwhile a committee made up of Mrs. Fry, Mrs. J.H. Leidigh and Mrs. James Lynch were doing prepartory work on the library. Shelves were being constructed by several men of the community; the women were selecting and assembling books, and on February 2, 1929, the dream was realized and the first library was opened in the Edwards and Nichols store building. Elizabeth Leidigh was the first patron to check out a book. Edna Sheldon Jackson was the first librarian.
The library was later moved to the E.W. Moore building, the Stewart building and then to the City Building.
A memorial bequest left to the city by Eva M. Woodbury in 1925 was used to furnish and equip space in the then new City Building and the library was moved into these quarters in 1939.