SIDESTEPS
Thomas Jefferson had it right about this (and other things): “I cannot live without books.”
Today’s world might substitute cell phones, computers, and/or other technological appliances to the can’t live without list. Many of us would add family, friends, art, and central heating and cooling, air conditioning that was most welcome last weekend. It is possible, of course, to read books on our phones, tablets, and computers.
But one of the best things in life are libraries, some of which are under attack for their collections.
The building, built by Hammel and Anderson in 1899-1900 and designed by architect Frank Gutterson of Des Moines, is described as neoclassical. It was dedicated on Feb. 22, 1900, the date observed for its 125th anniversary this year. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Owatonna Free Public Library.
But the Owatonna library is older than its building. It was established in 1896 by a legacy donation of $5,000. Voters in the city passed public funding for a dedicated building in 1898 and 1899. It remains on its original site at 105 N. Elm. It is inscribed as PVBLIC LIBRARY. The ancient Roman alphabet (aka Latin) had 23 letters, skipping J,U, and W. and didn’t use lower case letters. If long-time Owatonna education and teacher Lois Knutson was still living she could tell us more about this.
In its 125 years, there have been just 16 librarians, now called directors. Until the 14th and the 16th, the librarians were all women. In my lifetime, dear readers three, there have been just five – and I’m no longer a youngster by any means: Audienne Graham, Erana Stadler Donahue, Graham Benoit, Mary Kay Feltes and today’s director, Mark Blando.
Miss Stadler, later Mrs. Donahue, was the librarian when I got my first library card. I think I was 5 and an early reader. The card was a great thing to have, for sure, and opened up my world considerably, as it has done for generations of Steele County citizens over the last 125 years.
Our library has been more than books. The Art Room on the third floor was completed and opened in 1903, according to a brochure written for this year’s anniversary. In 1913, Owatonna hosted the Minnesota State Art Society exhibit, the only city in Minnesota outside of the metro area to do so. The brochure said that every available space, including stairwells, was filled with art seen by 7,000 people.
Back when there was still a card catalogue, the library added to the collection with up-to-date materials, a practice that has continued throughout the years.
There’s already bee.n special events celebrating its 125 year and those events continue. The traditional children’s reading program started on June 6. The adult summer reading program started that same day and will continue until Aug. 23.
On July 2, a UFO day is scheduled from 2 to 4:45 p.m. It’s not for space ship fans but is for people to bring in their very own Un-Finished Object to share. The annual book sale will be
The events continue throughout the rest of the year. And there are also year-long activities that can be joined at any time. Details are on the library website.
Mary Gontarek, now retired from media services at the library, posted food for thought last weekend. The Facebook (now Meta) post said: This may come as a shock but if there’s a book you don’t want to read, you don’t have to check it out. You don’t have to destroy the whole library.
Please continue to open the world to all.
Jan Mittelstadt Tippett is a retired newspaper publisher who lives in Owatonna.