The first library service in
Talkeetna started in 1973. With $300 from donations and bake
sales, a group of enthusiastic volunteers opened a library
with donated books in a spare room at what was then the B&K
Trading Post. That year the library was open part time 3 days
a week. It was estimated that there were 1,000 patron visits.
This group was so well known that they received a letter of
commendation from Congressman Don Young, congratulating them
on their volunteer efforts, and recognizing the importance
of library service in the area.
Throughout the next few years
the library was moved to many different locations as the collection
of books grew. In 1978 the local board asked the assembly
to fund a library building, and the assembly appropriated
$2,500 for architectural assistance in planning the building
design. In 1982 an abandoned FAA house was moved to the library’s
current location, and in 1985, with a renovation and addition,
became what is today the Talkeetna Public Library. The Borough
began funding the operations of the library at that time.
As of 2004, annual patron visits
totaled 25,500 and annual circulation was 27,000.
The library is now open 6 days
a week and services have expanded to include extensive interlibrary
loan capabilities, electronic resources, absentee voting,
job service information, and a variety of children’s
programs that promote literacy. The library houses over 17,000
items in book, periodical, video, audio and electronic formats.
Activities are bustling year round, and services constantly
expand to meet public demands.
Source: 40th Anniversary Edition of
the MSB Quarterly
The Talkeetna Public Library
is part of the Matanuska
Susitna Library Network.
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