"The health of our civilization, the depth of our awareness about the underpinnings of
culture and our concern for the future can be tested by how well we support our libraries."
Carl Sagan
American astronomer,
astrochemist and author
In the beginning there was a 13-foot Gerstenlager van and the people rejoiced. It was March 1967, and library service had come to Alpine County.
Lucile Brown Chain, thanks to her political contacts and vision, investigated the Library Construction Act of 1957 and made local citizens aware of its implications for Alpine County. The act allocated money for libraries in small, rural counties. As a result of Lucile's efforts, on Oct. 3, 1966, Louise Stubblefield, a state library representative, told county supervisors that the state library had budgeted $50,000 to fund a two-year library demonstration project in Alpine County.
The money would be used to purchase, maintain and staff a bookmobile and to buy about 3,500 books. Alpine would contract with El Dorado County for the professional services of their librarian, who would supervise the whole operation. Alpine would not be required to contribute any money towards the project. The bookmobile would divide its time between Markleeville and Woodfords. This project was intended to show whether Alpine County had an interest in library services.
The Oct. 20, 1966, issue of "The Alpine Newsletter" declared that the board "enthusiastically supported" the proposal of a county library.
On Nov. 7, the contract was signed by the Chairman Hubert Bruns. On Dec. 5, the supervisors appointed Faye Gansberg, Angie Merrill, Nancy Thornburg and Gary Coyan to the Library Advisory Board.
In the March 1967 issue of the newsletter, there was this happy announcement: "Alpine Bookmobile Now Open." Whether or not we are allowed to keep it will depend entirely on how much it is used." It was used, zealously. When the two year period came to an end the contract was extended to June 30, 1970.
The courthouse annex became its new headquarters, sharing space with the justice court and the health separtment. This building on Montgomery and Laramie streets, today occupied by the library and archives, was originally the New Webster School, designed by the renowned architect Frederick J. De Longchamp and built in 1928 of the rhyolite tuff, quarried near Silver Mountain City; the stones not used for the courthouse were donated to the school. On Jan. 13, 1970, there was an open house in the courthouse annex "for the purpose of acquainting everyone with the various services, equipment and materials available through the library." On Feb. 2, a resolution was passed establishing the Alpine County Library Commission, appointing the five current advisory board members: Lucile Chain, (Chairperson) Martha Brown, Ileen Long, Mabel Love and Nancy Thornburg.
Acquisitions, apart from the books, included 247 phonograph records, 19-magazine subscriptions, a 16 mm projector screen and table, a typewriter and stand, 15-unit card catalog and shelving. Films were available from the Mountain Valley Library System and The Educational Guide to Free Films. There were 187 regular borrowers and in 1969 5,730 books circulated, $10,000 remained in the budget. At this meeting supervisors voted for a permanent county library and on April 6, 1970, an ordinance was passed establishing the Alpine County Free Library.
The library benefited greatly from the encouragement and guidance first from El Dorado County Library then, starting in 1973, from Dorothy Sanborn of Placer County Library. In 1981, Dianne Deadrich was named county librrian. Last August, as a budgetary measure, the county librarian was laid off. In order to retain the title of county library, the library is again contracting with another library for professional services. In those budget cuts 80 staff hours per week were lost. The library is now run by two valiant and optimistic women, Rita Lovell and Dinette Greenwood, and a team of volunteers. They have plans for when funds are increased including expanding library services to Kirkwood (we have a branch in Bear Valley). But the first priority is to reinstate the position of county librarian.
When the board voted for a permanent library Mabel Love, secretary of the commission, wrote: "We feel we have made a great stride here in our county."
Let us continue to make great strides, in the right direction.
Thanks to Wanda Coyan, Barbara Howard, Rita Lovell and Nancy Thornburg for their help in research. Deep gratitude to the original members of the Library Advisory Board and Library Commission.
