Washington County Library Mission Statement
The mission of the Washington County Library System is to work cooperatively with libraries and schools in the county to develop one of the best information systems in the state.
Principles of service:
Provide open, non-judgmental access to collections and services without regard to race, citizenship, age, educational level, economic status, religion, or any other qualifications or conditions.
The library is to serve the total community by providing free and open access to the ideas and information available on all subjects and in all formats.
The library shall select and make available materials for the enlightenment, cultural enrichment and enjoyment of its public of all ages, levels of abilities and interest.
Advocate and support the First Amendment Rights and the Library Bill of Rights, and protect library materials from censorship.
Goals:
Provide collections and services to meet community needs and interests.
Promote the Utah Library System, and the awareness and use of library resources, services, and programs.
Develop and maintain working relationships with other libraries and with cultural, educaitional, social, and informational agencies.
Attract and develop a high-quality staff with special skills, knowledge and abilities to help library users. Create an environment which motivates staff to achieve high levels of performance and productivity.
Exercise prudence in the utilization of human, financial, and physical resources.
Utilize appropriate technologies to maintain and improve library operations and services.
Provide and maintain appropriate facilities.
Mission Statement: Washington County Library
The mission of the Washington County Library is to make readily available library materials that will meet the informational, educational, and recreational needs of all citizens of Washington County. As an information center, advocate of childhood reading development, lender of popular and serious literature, and repository of local written history, the Washington County Library is committed to enhancing the quality of life in Washington County.
Policy approved by the Library Board of Trustees Feb. 5, 1990
History of the Washington County Library
St. George had one of the first libraries in the state. Almost before the people were settled and before they had any certain assurances of livelihood, they began to look for material for self-improvement.
In 1864, the Utah Territorial Assembly passed an Act to incorporate the St. George Library Association. This act named Orson Pratt, Sr., Erastus Snow, F.D. Wooley, A.M. Cannon, Jacob Gates, Orson Pratt Jr., and James G. Bleak and their associates and successors in office as a body corporate, to be known and styled as the St. George Library Association, with all authority necessary to build and maintain or purchase for the library.
That the pioneers believed in laying the right kind of foundation for whatever they undertook is very evident. Here in the desert, far removed from the world of education, while enduring every hardship and without comforts or conveniences, almost without the necessities of life and with little assurance that they could make a success of their venture in this desolate and unattractive land, they began planning for a library through legal methods to insure their efforts a permanency that might not otherwise be achieved.
Legend tells us that these pioneers raised funds for the purchase of books through produce which was collected as tickets for parties of various kinds. One quart of molasses was required as a ticket of admittance. This quart was placed in a sixty-gallon barrel until the barrel was filled, and when six of the sixty-gallon barrels were thus filled, this, with other valuable produce similarly acquired, was taken to salt Lake City and sold or exchanged for books and other reading material. In those days, a trip to Salt Lake City required one full month or longer.
The books thus purchased, together with others in the town owned by the people for Sunday School, the Mutual Improvement Association, and the Relief Society, were housed in the Lyceum where the Mutual and Relief Society had their gathering.
During the building of the Tabernacle and the St. George Temple, the Church built a bakery to help take care of the workman who had been called to assist in the erection of these buildings. After the completion of these buildings, the bakery was no longer needed, and the building was renovated and turned over to the organizations of the Church for their programs. Unpretentious as it then was, historically it is of interest to the older people of Dixie and full of pleasant memories of those times. “It is said the boys sat on the south side of the aisle and the girls on the north, and no matter how crowded the girls were, no on of them was ever so old as to move over and sit with the boys.” Such behavior was most unheard of. If only we knew some of those personal stories or the lists of books available to the people through their struggles for reading, with what gusto we would enjoy them.
In 1907, the State Legislature passed an Act providing that cities of the third class “may establish and maintain a public library and gymnasium and assess a mill levy for the same.” George F. Whitehead was the Mayor with the City Council and the public library and appointed the Board of Directors. The St. George Stake Academy (now Dixie College) being established about this time, the books were housed in the new building. Ida Miles was appointed the first librarian in the year 1912, shortly after the new Church school was opened.
In 1912, the City Commission, with Thomas Judd as Mayor, made application to the Carnegie Foundation for a grant for a library building. The first request was for $5000.00, with a guarantee of $500.00 annually from the city of St. George for maintenance if the grant could be increased to $8000.00 This grant they received in 1915. To it was added another $4000.00 from the city, making a total of $12,000.00 for the structure. The building was completed in 1916 during the administration of John T. Woodbury, Albert E. Miller had charge of the construction, and that it well built is evident, for today it is in excellent condition and will be an excellent building for many years to come. How very proud those men could be today to see the results of their work and the service that has come to the people because of their sacrifices.
In 1919, the State Legislature made it possible for the counties to levy a tax for library purposes. Washington County’s only possibility of such a service was through the St. George Public Library. From the minutes of the library Board Meeting of June 14, 1919, page 3` of the record book, we read the following, which of course made me happy: “Present were Mayor Miller, A.K. Hafen, E.H. Snow, H.T. Atkin, I.O. Macfarlane, and Thomas F. Cottam…President E.S. Romney of the Dixie College asked that the library be made a County Library and read H.B. No. 97 relative to establishing county libraries. The question was thoroughly discuessed with a motion by President E.H. Snow to the effect that it be the concensus of this Board to discuss with the City Council the features of the new law.”
The minutes of June 17, 1919, tell us that an agreement was reached whereby St. George tendered the St. George Library building, books, etc., to the Washington County Commissioners as a County Library, but St. George was to retain the title to the property for the City. They agreed to pay the water and the lights for the building and grounds. The County agreed to levy on mill annually to maintain the library.”
Ione Bleak was librarian at this time, but she resigned in June, 1920. Miss Clara Farnsworth was appointed as librarian in September, 1920, and held the position until June, 1923. In August of that same year Mrs. Roxey S. Romney became librarian, and she has served continuously in that capacity to the present time.
People were ready and anxious for book service. There was a circulation of 8675 books during the year 1920, and up to 1923 there was a steady increase which reached more than 25,000 in the latter year. The figure for 1928 was 28, 175; by 1930 the circulation reached over 42,000 books, magazines, and pictures.
But the highest record was made in the year 1936 when the library had some WPA workers who helped to distribute and collect books. The County was covered regularly, and the circulation reached 51,845, a record which we have not reached since, even though we have more books and better facilities.
Until 1928, all the library books and service was in the adult department. At that time, the Board felt that they should divide the books and the work, and so the children’s books up to the seventh grade were placed in the basement, with Mrs. Jennie Brown as librarian. The budget was so small and the needs so many that the small amount paid to Mrs. Brown was hardly a recognition of her work. Yet it was more than Ida Miles, the first librarian, had been paid. Helen Starr followed Mrs. Brown in this department, and she was succeeded by Eliza Carpenter.
While the Board made this change with a question as to how they could meet it, it has proved to be one of the finest things for the library and for the Children’s Department. Today, is is a beautiful room, and although it is used in the mornings by the schools, the Library holds it for the children in the afternoon and evening. It now has a new asphalt tile floor in green and gray, with green walls to match. It is equipped with a new victrola and numerous records, some 6000 books for children, and a picture collection. It has taken many years to build this department, but it is now there for those who care to enjoy it.
With a mill levy the budget was small, and even then some years the commissioners felt it their right to take some of the money levied for library purposes for other uses. So meager were the funds in all the departments that it was quite impossible to give the services required on the small amount available. For years the budget was so small that it was quite impossible to buy new books for the needs of the County. Our books became almost threadbare, and yet the budget was not sufficient to buy more. Wages have always been among the very lowest on the basis set up by the American Library Association. Indeed, the wages were far below any standard set.
To get the books to the county people has been a problem. Books are sent by mail to interested parties or lent individually to people who come to get them. Thousands of books go anually to the schools of the county. Teachers send requests or come in person to select books, which are taken for two or three months or for shorter periods as requested, unless for some special books on the lists.
At Springdale, a branch library has been established by the people through the leadership of Nancy O. Crawford. Had she lived, she would have continued to play a great part in that community, for she wanted her people to read, and she felt that they were missing some of the finer things in life without books; so she worked hard for years and gave her time to get books for the people.
At Enterprise, a library is set up in the school where it offers a library service to the community. Books are sent there from the County Library in large numbers, sometimes in hundreds, upon the request of the people of that community.
Today our books number more than 18,000 volumes. Our building is an attractrive place which has been renovated with air conditioning for summer and an oil furnace for the winter. The old coal room partition has been removed, and with the room which was used by the city officers it makes one room attractive and well lighted, cool or warm as desired, and well suited for the people of the community to meet in, in either small or large groups. A new roof has replaced the old. In the main room a beautiful desk, built by Heber C. Cottam, adds dignity to our building and convenience to our service. New cabinet work and shelving have been installed, and murals showing local scenery decorate the walls. New tables and chairs and presently being added. The service is efficient. All in all, we feel that we have a library which can bring great benefit to the people if they but take advantage of what if offers.
–Roxey S. Romney