| From its humble beginnings in the Assembly Room of the
Pinckneyville
Grade School in 1917, the Pinckneyville Public Library in 2007 is
housed
in a modern, attractive, pleasant, well equipped structure at 312 South
Walnut Street. Modern lighting,
air-conditioning, comfortable reading tables and chairs, and a wide
assortment
of reading materials attract adults, children and students to the
Library.
Ably directed by its present Board of Trustees consisting of
Stewart Morgenstern, President; Marilyn McDonald, Vice President; Louise Schweizer,
Secretary;
Pat Perkins, Treasurer; Mary Roe, Carrol Wright, Mary Kopshever and David Stone, the Library
now boasts approximately 18,000 books, 50 periodicals, 500 videos, 180
audio
books and access to video tapes, audio books, periodicals, and books
from
the Shawnee Library System with deliveries on Monday and Wednesday of
each
week.
|
| Generous donations (in the form of funds, memorials,
and books)
from industries, organizations, and individuals in the community have
greatly
enriched the selections available to citizens of Pinckneyville and
surrounding
communities.
Blanche
Guthrie completed her twenty years (1951-1971) as the first Librarian
to
serve in the new facility dedicated in 1970. Mrs. Mildred Craig
succeeded
her and was followed by Wilma Guy, Adelaide Dunn and Margaret Urbanek,
respectively.
At present time the Library is staffed by Mark Urbanek, Library
Director.
|
| Appointed by the City Council, the members of the first Board
of Directors
in 1917 were Mr. B.Q. Hoskinson, President; Charles J. Bischof,
Secretary
(for 32 years); Mrs. W.S. Wilson, Marian McCandless, Mrs. W.T. Jones,
George
E. Hincke, Oscar Schultze, Roy Alden, and W.A. Nesbitt. When the
Library moved in 1936 to the Brey Building on South Walnut Street
(across
from Rigdon's), Mr. Nesbitt was President. In addition to Mr.
Bischof,
the Secretary, rev M.P. Schroedel, Mrs. W.F. Jones, Mrs. Gladys
Geumalley,
Mr. M.J. Pyatt, Ralph Caveglia, and William Montgomery served on the
Board.
Later in 1936, after the new City Hall was completed, the Library was
moved
upstairs there with Mrs. Margaret Malan asLibrarian. Mr. Pyatt was President; Lyle Brown, Secretary.
Ralph Caveglia, Rudy Kohlsdorf, Maxine Heisler, Herman Epplin, along
with
Halleck Reese, Mrs. J.S. Templeton and Mrs. Louis Templeton also were
members
of the Board. In May 1970 the present Library at 312 South Walnut
Street opened its doors. An Open House was held September 20,
1970.
Since then, the Library has been used by local organizations for
meetings
and presentations, story hours, and art and photography exhibits. |
