Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, June 14, 2012

In a box of obituaries donated to the library by the family of Lorraine NICHOLS there was a small booklet entitled "Fiftieth Anniversary Observance -- Mount Ayr Public Library, Friday, June 25, 1965." In the chapter, "New Library About Completed," is the following statement, "Every public spirited citizen of Mount Ayr is proud of the new Carnegie library building which is to be dedicated on January 1 and everyone who has visited the building is pleased that the members of the library board did not confine the expenditure to the $8,000 given by the Carnegie Corporation but expended in addition a sufficient amount to complete the building and make it adequate to the needs of the community. In view of the high price of everything that went into the construction of the building, the $8,000 was not sufficient and the members of the board have realized from other sources -- from the jumble sales, the sale of old papers and magazines, etc. -- part of the amount needed to complete the building. The beautiful building at the southwest corner of the square, centrally located and accessible to all; built of tapestry brick, with a tile roof; symmetrical in architectural design, presents an appearance at once pleasing, and one is led to wonder how such a fine building could be erected at so small cost. Surely good judgment and extreme care have been exercised."

If Miss Maud SPENCE, the first library board president, and Pearl ROBINSON, the first librarian, could come back today they would no doubt be pleased to see that the library building they worked so hard for has been lovingly maintained by the community since 1916.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2012