Th e Library continued to grow along with the town. In 1952, a Board of Directors
was formed to manage the valuable services provided to the community by the Florence
Public Library. Th e Board held its fi rst meeting in January of 1952, with Molly Andreasen
serving as President. Alice Hanson was hired as librarian. Years later, at her retirement,
Mrs. Hanson recalled that “she didn’t know beans” about running a library, but board
president Andreasen told her: “we learn together.” And they did, with the help of a
representative of the State Library who visited Florence and instructed the librarian
and the library board “how to catalogue and index the books according to the standard
procedure.”
In February of 1955, the Florence Public Library became an offi cial department of
the City when the Florence City Council formally legalized its status.
“After 40 years, Florence city council has gotten around to legalizing the
Florence Public Library. The prophetic words of the late editor W.H.
Weatherson in “The West” back in 1915 that the library would be accepted
by the city when the council got around to it have been fulfilled!”
~ The Oar, February 11, 1955
Ten years later, the Florence Public Library celebrated its 50th anniversary and a
lengthy history was published in The Siuslaw News.
“Present librarian on duty Mrs. Alice N. Hanson, stated that the library now
has 6616 volume books on its shelves, with approximately 607 persons
actively using library cards. The Florence Public Library is open Tuesday,
Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. Its value to the people is
limited only by the use they make of it. Its purpose is, and always has been,
to serve.”
~The Siuslaw News, June 3, 1965
And the following year, on July 29, 1966, Florence voters approved a $150,000
bond issue for the construction of a new combination city hall and library. Long-time
Florence resident Mary Johnston was serving on the Library Board, and was pivotal in
championing the library move. Th e new facility was located on Highway 101 just north of
the Siuslaw River Bridge. Librarians instrumental during this time of transition included
Larry Cross (the fi rst professional librarian ever to work at the Florence Library), Beverly
Staff ord, and Wyma Hood (Library Director, 1972-1978).
A “Friends of the Library” group was organized in 1977 to help support the library by
raising funds, sponsoring cultural events, gathering community support, and encouraging
private donations. Just fi ve years later, the local newspaper reported:
“The Friends’ five year affair with the library has been a successful one and
if the couple stays together it’s likely to be busy at the Florence Public Library
for the next few years.”
~The Siuslaw News, June 17, 1982
Th e 1980s would see not only the continued success of the Friends of the Library
but the expansion of Library services to residents outside of Florence. In June of 1984,
the voters of Florence approved a proposal initiated by Library Director Michael Gaston
and a citizens’ panel for the creation of the Siuslaw Public Library District to encompass
not only the town of Florence but also the area from Dunes City on the south to Heceta
Beach on the north and from the coast east to Cushman. With the approval of funding
for the library district in a September 1984 referendum, the newly-formed library district
offi cially started business on July 1, 1985.
“Florence and the surrounding communities have outgrown their current
library. The need for more space will become ever more acute as the area
grows. Remaining in the current location is not an option. Voters should
support the library bond issue and begin planning to celebrate its opening…”
~ Editorial in The Siuslaw News, undated
Demand for library services continued to grow, and in December of 1990, aft er the
successful $1.5 million bond issue passed with a 70% majority, a sparkling new 15,000
square-foot facility was completed and opened to the public at the same location where
the Florence library stands today. Th e land for the Library was purchased with funds left
to the Library by Elsie Johnson. Ms. Johnson, a frequent library patron, had been the head
librarian of the Florence Library in the 1920’s.
Th e Siuslaw Public Library District boundaries were expanded in 1993 to include
the areas surrounding the Lane County communities of Mapleton, Swisshome, and
Deadwood. Th is expansion doubled the area of Lane County served by the library district.
In May of 1996, the Mapleton branch library facility relocated from a 500-square-foot
storefront on Highway 126 to its current location on Riverview Drive, two remodeled
rooms in the historic Mapleton school building owned by the Lion’s Club.
Full shelves, not enough work and storage space, and limited parking led to a
decision to further expand the Florence library facility in the early 2000’s. A successful
campaign to solicit donations was undertaken, although a ballot measure failed by 132
out of 7,680 votes cast. Aft er the measure was defeated by this narrow vote, the District
Board commenced a new fundraising eff ort and additional donations, Urban Renewal
funds, and funds raised by an estate bequeathed to the library by Linda Buck resulted in
a successful campaign. Th e much-needed library addition was completed in 2010 under
Library Director Steve Skidmore, and the fi rst piece of permanent public art in the form
of Mack Holman’s statue “Joy” was installed on site and dedicated in March 2013.
Th e history of library service in western Lane County is one of progress and growth. In
the last hundred years the collection has grown from 100 items to over 101,000. With this
voluminous collection and the addition of computers, access to information is unlimited
and available to all. Not only is the Siuslaw Public Library a place to gather information,
it is a place to seek new worlds via books and movies, and a place where people can gather
to meet friends, old and new. Th e citizens served by the Siuslaw Public Library District
can be grateful to the tireless dedication of the countless number of library staff , board
members, Friends, and volunteers who have contributed over the last one hundred year
to the success of one of the best public libraries in Oregon.
Also in 2013 Meg Spencer, formerly of the Orem Public Library in Utah, was selected
as the new Library Director upon Steve Skidmore’s
retirement. She began work at the Siuslaw Public
Library in November 2013, joining Asst. Director
Gayle Waiss; Librarians Kevin Mittge, Mary Colgan-
Bennetts, Linda Weight; and Jeanne Smalldon ;
Library Assts. Margaret Avery, Lynda Green, Yvonne
Pappagallo, and Susie Voth; Clerks Stephanie McNutt
and Trudy Kelley; and substitutes Bill Benson, Barb
Grano, Beth Hammond, and Lauren Hesse. A team
boasting more than 150 years of library experience!
Truly, the history of library service in Lane
County is a story of progress and growth and one of
the best libraries in Oregon.
Happy Builder at the Library Lego Club
Congratulations and
THANK YOU
for all your service to the community
Otter Wolf Inn
541-991-1692
C ONGRATULATIONS !
Pho: 541-997-8526
Fax: 541-997-9132
Glass for Every Purpose
1780 Kingwood St. / P.O. Box 144
Siuslaw Public Library District Celebrating 100 Years | May 6, 2015 - 3