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A
bounty of books, modern media and historical charm!
Mission
Statement
The Galena Public Library District will provide access
to innovative library services, delivered in an
efficient and effective manner, that will:
- Assist
patrons to grow and learn throughout their lives
- Provide
materials, programs and services needed to meet
their
educational and recreational needs.
- Enable
patrons to find and use information in a variety of
formats
- Provide
the information services needed to answer questions
- Enable
patrons to explore their personal and community
heritage
A
History of the Galena Public Library
The
Galena Public Library and Reading Room
was established by B. F. Felt, a local merchant,
in 1894 and formally opened on January 3, 1895.
It first occupied two rooms on the second floor of
the post office, then known as the Customs House.
The initial collection contained 1,522
volumes, mostly donated by the founder.
On
providing the funds for the library, Mr. Felt set one
condition: four of the nine members of the Board of
Directors had to be women.
This was an unprecedented move, drawing national
attention. Among the four women was Mr. Felt’s daughter, Anna, who
became financial secretary and remained on the board
until her death in 1953.
In
1906 matching funds from the Carnegie Foundation and the
Felt Estate were given for the construction of a new
library. The
success of this venture was due largely to Anna Felt’s
generosity and influence.
She stipulated that the library site must be
viewed from the heart of town.”
The
library became a district library, encompassing East and
West Galena
Townships, in 1989. This voter-approved change
enabled the library to serve
more people and to expand its services.
Today the Galena Library has more
than 22,000 items in its collection, plus access to the
inventories of
hundreds of other Illinois libraries and beyond.
Programs
include a weekly preschool story hour, a Summer Reading
Program, an adult book discussion group, the Civil War
Roundtable and a variety of other events for all ages.
A unique feature of
the Galena Library is the Alfred
Mueller Historical Collections Room. Mr.
Mueller, a former employee of the library, spent
much of his life studying and gathering photographs of
Galena’s history and people.
Dedicated to Mr. Mueller in 1989, the Historical
Collections Room provides area residents and visitors
access to local history and genealogy.
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