CITY OF CHEROKEE, IOWA
CHEROKEE PUBLIC
LIBRARY
Library Website:
www.cherokee.lib.ia.us
Library e-mail:
cherdir@iowatelecom.net
215 S. 2nd St. Phone No. 712-225-3498 Fax No. 712-225-4964
| Winter Library Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday |
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| Tuesday & Thursday | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Saturday | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. |
(Memorial Day to Labor Day) library closes at 5 p.m. on Wednesdays and
the library is open on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to noon.
| Library Staff: Mary Jo Ruppert, Director | Judy Grienke-Miller, Technical Services |
| Margaret Semerad | Sandy Gustafson |
| Sandy Taylor | Christy Alquist |
| Donna Amundson | |
The three full time staff members are certified with the State Library of Iowa.
| Board of Trustees: Jomi Anderson, President | Ed Burkhalter |
| John Challstrom | Ruth Hayes |
| Darla Struck | Brenda Perrin |
| Bill Jentz | Jim Lewallen |
| Jeff Hayes | |
Friends of the Library meet several times throughout the year. Their annual
fundraiser,
a holiday book basket auction, takes place in December. Officers
are: Julie Thomas, President,
Sue Parker, Secretary and Mary Ann Miller, Treasurer.
HISTORY
The Cherokee Public Library was established in 1886 by a group of twelve women and
officially
opened its doors in 1898. In January of 1903, the City received
confirmation of a $10,000 grant
from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation with an additional
$2,000 being granted the next year.
The building was dedicated in April of 1905 and
still houses the library. The interior has been
remodeled, but the facade is
original, allowing the library to be placed on the National Register
of Historic Sites in
1986. A two floor addition to the rear of the building was completed in
October,
1998. An interesting feature of the addition is the enclosure of the original
"bowstring"
west wall as an interior wall.