History of the Hope Welty Public Library

A Library was organized by the Cerro Gordo Library Association in 1892, with rooms in a building in the main business block. Owing to rent and other expense, it was moved to the Methodist Church and then finally discontinued.

In 1930 another public library was started under the sponsorship of the Woman’s Club. The books were largely donations from those interested.

It was held in the frame building back of the grade school. In 1935 a tax was levied and the present system was established. The first directors were Marge Grove, Ethel Dobson, Lena Dobson, Mary Landis, Faye Wolff and Gladys Robinson.

Miss Hope Welty was the first librarian and it was mostly through her efforts that a library was established. She, with the help of her former piano pupils; sorted and cataloged the books. Miss Welty received a salary of $20.00 a month.

After the death of Hope Welty on July 24, 1935 the Library Board in co-operation with the Woman’s Club decided to name the library Hope Welty Township Library in her honor, as it was through her efforts that the library was started.

The library was in the Scout Hall in the 200 block of East Wait Street until 1957, when the board purchased and moved into the building at 116 East Wait Street.

The library became a member of the Rolling Prairie Library System in 1966, making it possible for the local library to offer a wider variety of reading materials, fiction and non-fiction to it’s readers. Other services included loans of records, magazines, framed prints, films, film strips and slides.

In 1987-88 Hope Welty Township Library constructed a new building at 100 South Madison Street, with room for expansion if necessary.

The library became Hope Welty Public Library District in 1989.