Library History
The Kanawha Women’s Club organized the public library in 1921. The local creamery loaned space in their offices to house the library. The books were donated by members of the Women’s Club and others. The library was open two afternoons and evenings each week.
In 1972, after years of moving about town, the library settled into space in the newly acquired and remodeled City Hall at the corner of Main Street and East 2nd Street. Financial assistance in preparing the space was received from the Kinney-Lindstrom Foundation, Farmers State Bank, and the founding body, the Kanawha Women’s Club.
In 1999, the Kanawha Public Library added public internet access to the reading, reference, and video materials available to the community. The current patron desktop computers were purchased in 2019 along with laptops to accommodate those using wheelchairs or mobility devices. The library’s two printing/copying/faxing machines were updated in 2022 to allow wi-fi printing from patron’s own devices.
In 2017, additional space for library programming usage was created with a partition wall in the City Hall’s community room. At this time, the wall is closed for special programming including Makerspace activities each month and during the summer reading program in June and July.
Today, the library is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays to serve the public. The library uses an automated circulation and record keeping system to keep track of its physical items for checkout including digital video materials and audio book compact discs. The library also shares downloadable audio books, videos, magazines and electronic books with the State of Iowa. The library’s website includes online databases for research and job skills development, foreign and English as a second language learning, and a site dedicated to animated children’s books. Links to local, state, and national government resources are also included on the website. Embracing perpetually changing technology, the library continues its mission to freely serve the community with materials and programs to provide information, entertainment, and continuing education.