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  Table of Contents about Andrew Carnegie About Allen Gardiner, author of The Carnegie Legacy in Kansas Further information about Libraries featured in this book Carnegie Legacy in Kansas logo: Link that takes you to the home page  

YATES CENTER

EARLY LIBRARY HISTORY
 
At a meeting of the Jessie Cooper Reading Circle, on Jan. 8, 1907, Mrs. C. S. Holmes suggested that the Circle consider the starting of a library, and it was decided that representatives from other clubs should serve on the library board. The board first met on January 24, and made plans to open a library, January 29, 1907. The library was opened in the Apollo Opera House with 120 books. On Jan. 1, 1908, library cards were sold at $1.00 per year. On June 2, 1909, the name was changed from the Yates Center City Library to the Yates Center Public Library, and the board transferred the books and property of the library association to the City of Yates Center.
 
Carnegie Library: Yates Center, Kansas

 
THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY
 
On January 10, 1910, application for a Carnegie building was made, and the Carnegie Corporation agreed, on January 31, 1910, to give $7,500.00 for a building. Three lots were donated by the Missouri-Pacific Railroad on May 3, and in June, the building plans of A. T. Simmons, architect, of Bloomington, Ill., were approved. The contract was let for $6,593.00 on April 10, 1911 [the name of the contractor has been lost], and the building work began in May. The library was opened March 3, 1912.
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING
 
The building is 50' x 30', one story above a raised basement. The exterior is of red brick with a white cement trim. The roof was originally of red tile but has been replaced with a shingle roof. Originally the front facade boasted twin towers with a connecting arch above the entrance. The towers have been removed and a new facade fashioned. The original design of the building is virtually the same as that of the Carnegie library in Hays; both were designed by A. T. Simmons.
 
LATER LIBRARY HISTORY
 
The library has 11,000 volumes and serves a population of 2,000. 17,000 items were circulated in 1984. The 1985 budget is $21,900.00. The library has a backrun of local newspapers on microfilm. The library is a member of the Southeast Kansas Library System.
 
Yates Center Public Library: Photo courtesy of the Kansas State Historical Society
Yates Center Public Library
Photo courtesy of the Kansas State Historical Society

 
LIBRARIANS
Miss Eva Wirick 19 Jan 1907 - 6 Feb 1911
Mrs. Edith Camac 6 Feb 1911 - 3 Mar 1912
Mrs. Clara Wharton< 3 Mar 1912 - 2 Apr 1923
Mrs. Lillian Sherwood 2 Apr 1923 - 2 Apr 1928
Mrs. Mertie Millson Powell 4 Sep 1928 - 7 Jul 1948
Mrs. Nellie Musselman 7 Jul 1948 - 8 May 1961
Mrs. Vonder Herder 8 May 1961 -

 
SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Kansas State Library. Kansas Library Bulletin (various issues).

Yates Center News, Yates Center, Kansas, Aug. 26, 1971.