Arnolds Park, IA - Public Library

Formation of the Arnolds Park Library began in 1902 with a membership of 14 people and dues of twenty-five cents a year. In 1903 there were 25 card holders.
The first library was in the schoolhouse and was transferred to the A.A. Henderson home in 1904 due to a disagreement about the library association meeting at the schoolhouse. They held suppers to raise money and each benefit netted about $10-$20 for the library. In 1903, a gentleman wrote to Mrs. Henderson: "While the ladies have worked faithfully to keep up the library, I have not heard of any men doing anything since we partook of the supper and made speeches at the schoolhouse--and later voted against the tax for its partial support." When the Henderson family moved west the books were placed in the old WCTU Hall and were in the charge of that association for some time. At first non-residents were required to deposit the value of the book in advance with the librarian-the money was refunded when the book was returned. In 1903, this was changed to a deposit of $2.50 for the season, with ten cents per book checked out deducted at the end of the season. Books purchased cost an average of thirty-five cents each.