History of the Library
On March 8, 1883, at a meeting of the W.C.T.U., $38 was secured to establish a reading room over Cash & Busby's Store. In 1908, the City Commission accepted the Andrew Carnegie offer of $10,000 to build a Free Library Building for the City of Huron. This building opened to the public September 3, 1909, and served the city for 56 years. In the fall of 1965, the building was razed and the present structure erected on the same site.
On September 18, 1966, the new library building was dedicated. This facility continues to provide library services for the Huron residents.
On July 10, 2008, the library held a groundbreaking ceremony was held to kick off a building expansion project. Construction was completed in May 2009 and a dedication ceremony was held on August 20, 2009.
Did You Know? (Fun Facts about the Library)
Did you know the Huron Public Library began in 1883 as a reading room? It was located over the Cash and Busby’s Store (on 3rd St., West near the corner of Wisconsin). The WCTU and the YWCA donated $38.00 to form the library. It was financed by subscriptions and other money-making endeavors.
Did you know the decision to establish a City Library, funded by the City of Huron, passed by a SLIM margin in 1907? The library issue received 368 votes favorable and 366 votes against establishing a Public Library, financed by the City of Huron – a win by only 2 votes!!!!
Did you know a new Carnegie Library was opened for the Huron Public in 1909?
Did you know the older section of Huron Public Library building was opened for public use in 1966? The Art Pugsley Construction Company of Huron built the library. The building project was funded by the City of Huron and a Federal LSCA Grant.
Did you know the Huron Public Library has a Friends of the Library organization? It began in 1964. The ‘Friends’ support library activities and services.
Did you know the Friends of the Library (with the help of volunteers and Sertoma members) sponsors a used book sale room? Donations of used books, magazines, puzzles, games, videos, tapes, etc. are accepted for the used book sale.
Did you know the Huron Public Library holds a pre-school Story Time each Fall and each Spring, age 3 – 5? For more information and times call the Library, 353-8530.
Did you know the Huron Public Library holds a Summer Reading Program each summer? This summer's theme was “Be Creative @ your Library” and approximately over 750 Huron area youth participated. The theme for next year will be announced Spring 2010.
Did you know a Color Photocopier is available for public use @ the Huron Public Library? Black/white copies are 15 cents, Color copies are 40 cents. The Color Photocopier was purchased by the Friends of the Library.
Did you know personal and business IRS tax forms are available @ the Huron Public Library during income tax season and all year long?
Did you know the Huron Public Library offers over 100,000 items for public use @ the Library? The library has 79,000 hardcover books, 15,000 paperback books, 600 Spanish language books, 3,900 audio books, 142 cdrom computer programs, 3,300 videos & DVDs, 100+ magazine subscriptions, and 12 newspaper subscriptions.
Did you know the Huron Public Library checked out over $3,630,000.00 worth of library materials in 2001? People borrowed 146,000 books and other materials from the Huron Public Library in 2001.
Did you know the Huron Public Library has a computerized card catalog and is a member of the South Dakota Library Network? Computerized library services have been available at the Huron Public Library since 1994.
Did you know the Huron Public Library has several full-text magazine, journal, and reference databases available on their website? These full-text databases are available, 24/7, to Huron Public Library card holders from their homes or offices or at the library.
Did you know you may borrow books on a wide variety of subjects @ the Huron Public Library? Car Repair – Travel guides – Antiques – Cookbooks – Home decorating – Gardening – Sewing – Quilting – Health Care – Animal Care – Child Care – and MORE! Check them out @ the Huron Public Library.
Did you know you can borrow LARGE PRINT BOOKS @ the Huron Public Library? A large collection of Fiction and Non-Fiction Large Print Books is available for loan.
Did you know you can borrow AUDIO BOOKS @ the Huron Public Library? Over 3900 audio books are available for loan. Listen to a good book while traveling – “the miles fly by much faster while listening to an exciting story!!” “Forget the drudgery of ironing when listening to a good book while you iron.”
Did you know you may reserve time to use a computer @ the Huron Public Library? The library has 6 computers for scheduled use. The computers may be used for Internet access. The computers also has several Microsoft Office programs available for public use. To schedule computer use time, call the library at 353-8530.
Did you know you may view a Frederick Remington sculpture @ the Huron Public Library? Dr. Landreth donated the sculpture, “Coming through the Rye,” to the Library.
Did you know the Huron Public Library has a large SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION which includes over 3,700 books and materials about South Dakota or written by authors from South Dakota.
Did you know you may read a microfilm copy of an 1881 Huron newspaper @ the Huron Public Library? The Library has over 450 reels of microfilm containing Huron newspapers from 1881 to the present.
Did you know there have been at least 11 newspapers for the Huron area since 1881?
Daily Huronite 1886 – 1945
Daily Plainsman 1945 – present
Dakota Daily Leader 1883
Dakota Huronite 1884 – 1909
Huron Tribune 1881
Huron Weekly World 1903 – 1906
Journal World 1903 – 1908
Journal World Spirit 1908
Weekly State Spirit 1909 – 1918
Did you know you may read South Dakota Census microfilm @ the Huron Public Library? The Library has Census microfilm available from 1860, 1870, 1880, 1885, 1900, 1910, and 1920. The 1930 Census information is available from the website database, Ancestry Library Edition. This database is accessible @ the Huron Public Library.
Did you know you may borrow a book from another library through INTERLIBRARY LOAN @ the Huron Public Library? If the Huron Public Library does not own the book you need, you may borrow the book through Interlibrary Loan. There is a $2.00 shipping charge per book borrowed.