Founders of the Waverly Public Library

Frances Sevey, Lissie Carmain, Anna Austin, Grace Arthur, Alta Pyles
Anna Ingleman, Laura Rankin, Effie Logsdon, Josie Guy
Winifred McFadden, Ava Bancroft, Ida May Kingston, Mamie Lindsay

he Waverly City Public Library, owned and operated by the city, owes it's existence in a very great measure, to the group of girls shown herewith. They were originally a Sunday School class; most of them the pupils of M. L. Hays. Through his encouragement they organized the "Day Star Daughters." Their first appearance was in December, 1894, in an entertainment, the proceeds from which were used for charitable purposes. In 1895 they established a free public library in the rear room of of the old Dowd building, now occupied by J. C. Carmain's paint shop. It was furnished comfortably and kept open three evenings per week and from 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. on Saturdays. March 3, 1896, they turned their trust over to the Waverly Library Association. They received $204.66, most of it from entertainments given, some from membership fees and some from donations. They had spent $116.09 for books, and collected 200 volumes. $26.25 was spent for furniture, stove and matting, and $62.98 for rent, fuel, freight, subscriptions, printing, racks, clock, etc., and they had a deficit of 66 cents. The library was soon moved to the school building, where it now is located in a nicely appointed library room. It is now owned by the city, supported by a public tax, and governed by a library board appointed by the mayor. The present board is Mrs. J. L. Senior, Miss Sallie Stewart, C. N. Converse, M. L. Hays, and O.J. Rose. Miss Lucy Senior is librarian. There are now 550 volumes on the shelves, and as the running expenses are practically nothing, almost the entire income is added in new books year by year.   The Waverly Gazette Souvenir and Historical Edition Waverly Kansas, Sept. 20, 1902

Current Waverly Library

The Waverly Library is now part of the Coffey County Library