The 35 Women’s Civic Club members of Canyonville established the first library in 1948. After completing several civic betterment projects, they decided to start a library. They held a turkey dinner to raise funds, charging adults $2 and children $1, plus a book. They served over 200 people and received over 200 books.  

The first library was a one-room hotel, donated by the city.  In April 1949, citizens had prepared the land, and the hotel was moved to where Falks Clinic is now.  In February 1950, renovations began with donated materials and labor, and high school boys from across the street and Boy Scouts helped the two carpenters.  Other local contractors installed windows and doors, supplied paint and painters, electrical work, and gravel for sidewalks, all aided by townspeople’s time and money.  

The Civic Club held many fundraisers, including rummage sales, hard times dances, election day lunches, card parties, and Christmas parties, constantly reminding attendees to bring a book.  By February 1951, the library was ready to open 2 evenings a week, staffed with the Civic Club members. 

This information was found in Volume #40, August 2007, in the Pioneer Days in the South Umpqua Valley article by Gwen Deaton. It was not noted how many books were in the beginning library.

Be sure to check back as we will be adding more historical information.