HISTORY OF THE LIBRARY
May 15, 2006 the Bowman Regional Public Library moved into it's new
location at 18 Divide Street East, in Bowman, North Dakota. Here is an
account from the Prairie Tales book of the beginnings of library
services in Bowman.
LOCAL LIBRARY WAS
ESTABLISHED IN ‘13
The Clara Lincoln Phelan Memorial
Library has been of service to residents of this area since June 17,
1913. It was on this date that twenty one women met for the purpose of
discussing the possibility of starting a library or reading room. An
organization resulted known as the Public Library Association.
Bi-monthly meetings were held with a
lunch served each time, for which a charge of ten cents was made. This
was the beginning of the Library fund.
On July 11, 1913, the constitution and
by-laws were adopted. An election of officers was held at the next
meeting, followed by a drive to secure books.
November 2, 1913, was the formal
opening of the library. The opening was held in the room above, what was
then, the Herzog Meet Market. The use of the room was donated by the
Bowman Masonic lodge and was used for about two years.
The organization was confronted with
the task of raising the necessary funds to finance the expenses
incidental to operating the library. In addition to the expense of fuel,
lights, and librarian’s salary, new equipment and books were needed. The
members of the association spared neither time nor effort in securing
these funds.
Among the events sponsored by the
association were dances, card parties, bake sales, baseball games, home
talent plays, lyceum courses, tag days, etc. These all received the
cooperation of the people of this vicinity, as is shown by the records
that one tag day netted $108.50.
In the fall of 1915, the late J.E.
Phelan erected the Clara Lincoln Phelan Memorial home for the library.
A public opening was held in December,
1915. At that time a public solicitation for funds was made and the sum
of $382.25 was raised. In the spring of 1918 the library was put on a
taxation basis. The organization was no longer needed and was abandoned
by mutual consent May, 1919.
There are nearly 7,000 volumes in the
library general works, five sets of encyclopedias, religion, sociology,
science, arts, literature, history-biography, adult fiction and juvenile
fiction. Each year current books are added, keeping the library up to
date.
The library maintains a reading table
well stocked with a wide variety of periodicals, many of which are on
file since 1916. The complete files of magazines are valuable in that
they furnish an excellent source of present day history.
Several years ago a deed to the library
property was given to the town of Bowman by the heirs of the J.E. Phalen
estate.
Source: Prairie Tales, Copyright
1965 by Rural Area Development Committee, Bowman County, North Dakota
(including its trade areas).
