| Reiger
Memorial Library, Haskell |
| Contributed
by Helen Kirk and Carol Tidwell |
| 1933-1934 |
Volunteers
are believed to have operated the first library in Haskell.
In the years 1933-34, a W.P.A. funded library was located in
a small city owned storage building near the present city park.
Books were neatly stacked on tables as remembered by Barbara
Clements LaFerry and Toni Beshara Haney, who went to the library
as young girls. |
| 1940 |
On January
18th Mrs. Clara Hensley, a W.P.A. librarian, showed a total
of 445 volumes which were the property of the Haskell Library.
Of this group there were 191 fiction books all having been donated
by the community. All citizens are urged to come and check out
books. |
| 1957 |
Library
opened in Town Hall building. Books are from the Oklahoma State
Library to be here until October, under the sponsorship of Kappa
Kappa Iota organization. |
| 1967 |
In September
the Pa-A-Linn Study Club held pre-school story hours at the
city park, the beginning of their drive for library services
to Haskell. Purna Guy and Toni Haney, members of the Club, spent
hours getting library resource people to explain the functions
and benefits of a multi-county library program. |
| 1970-1971 |
Bookmobile
service began for the town of Haskell. Mrs. Mae Jennings, Assistant
Muskogee Multi-County Library, told members of the Pa-A-Linn
Club of plans to bring a multi-county mobile unit to Haskell,
beginning no later than December, 1970. The unit will serve
area people twice a month. |
| 1972 |
Two-mill
levy for funding the library and becoming a member of the
Eastern Oklahoma District Library System was endorsed by a large
majority vote in March.
April 1st was the first day of business for the Haskell Public
Library. LaRaye Polk was the first branch librarian for the
1500 sq.ft., 3,000 volume library that was open 22 hours per
week and operated on a $600 annual books and materials budget.
On August 18th Haskell Public Library’s second branch
librarian, Marie Lechner, takes over duties and remains in this
position until February 2, 1981. The library program gradually
grew under the direction of Mrs. Lechner. Library events were
continually programmed to increase community participation and
involvement. |
| 1981 |
On March
10th the Muskogee District Library Board of Directors appointed
Tena Kirk as librarian for the Haskell Public Library. Mrs.
Kirk is the library’s present branch manager.
In October the Theodore A. and Neva D. Rieger estate left 10%
of the entire estate to the town of Haskell for the public library.
In November the Haskell Public Library began an annual poster
contest in observance of Children’s Book Week. |
| 1983 |
Former
Haskell bankers, Harold and Marie French, donated property for
construction of a new library in January.
On December 6th groundbreaking for construction of the new library
building was made possible by an inheritance from the estate
of the late Neva D. Rieger, daughter of Haskell pioneer banker,
Carr Peterson, plus an Oklahoma Department of Libraries grant. |
| 1984 |
August
7th was the first day of operation for the 4,209 sq.ft. building,
named Rieger Memorial Library.
On September 8th the new Rieger Memorial Library was dedicated.
|
| 1986 |
A second
mill levy election on November 4th increased funding to four
mills.
|
| 1990 |
On January
4th the Haskell News reported that the library received awards
for the “Outstanding Library Program of 1989” and
“Outstanding Branch Library”. |
| 1992 |
On April
1st the library observed its 20th anniversary with an all day
open house and other forms of entertainment for all ages.
The library began checking out books with a new computerized
circulation system. Computer terminals replaced the card catalog.
The automated Dynix System also connected all branches in the
EODLS, allowing patrons to view materials available. Rieger
received a grant in 1992 from the Oklahoma Department of Libraries
to begin participating in the Oklahoma Library Technology Network
(OLTN), to supply libraries with technology to research materials
from ODL, Northeastern State University, Oklahoma State University
and other libraries from over the state on CD-ROM format. |
| 1995 |
On July
1st Rieger Memorial Library increased its hours to 44 per week.
The five year long range plan, 1995-2000, emphasized Popular
Materials Library and secondary Preschoolers’ Door to
Learning. |
| 1996 |
Another
grant from ODL was received to upgrade the OLTN network that
will prepare the library for access to the internet in the future. |
| 1997 |
Library
staff began taking classes in order for each member to become
certified by ODL and OLA.
The library observed its 25th anniversary. A book review by
Marilyn
Hinshaw, director of EODLS, was one of our programs offered
to the public for the day. |
| 1998 |
Rieger
Memorial Library was made ready for internet access.
The branch manager and library clerk became certified from ODL. |
| 1999 |
In April
National Library Week was observed under the slogan “Explore
More at the Library”.
In November Children’s Book Week was celebrated with the
annual poster contest. Entries were received from 350 children,
grades K-5. The slogan was “Plant a Seed . . . Read”.
Also in November the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation provided
funds for public access to computers and the internet. The library
received two computers. |
| 2000 |
National
Library was was observed in April under the slogan “Read,
Learn, Connect @ the Library”. Students from Bette Gabehart’s
Senior English class presented a program called Historical Landmarks.
IT featured the history of local structures at least fifty years
old.
Introductory computer classes were conducted by library staff
for the public.Service responses selected for the library’s
long range plan, FY 2000-2005, are Current Topics and Titles
and Lifelong Learning. |
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