From different locations to presidential visits, Grand Island Public Library has lots to celebrate in 140th year
For 25 years Celine Swan has been involved with one of the oldest libraries in Nebraska and now she gets to celebrate it’s 140th year.
October 11, 2024Updated: October 11, 2024
By News Channel Nebraska
By News Channel NebraskaGRAND ISLAND, Neb.- For 25 years Celine Swan has been involved with one of the oldest libraries in Nebraska and now she gets to celebrate its 140th year.
“I remember going to the old library downtown that’s the old Carnegie building that's down by Wave Pizza on the corner there," Swan said. "I remember going to that library when I was a child and Roberta Lowery was there. She was the librarian.”
Years later, Celine Swan is the director of the Grand Island Library. She is leading efforts to celebrate the library's 140th birthday.
“I’ve always been connected and love libraries and reading so I’m pretty excited to be part of this day,” Swan said.
The city’s first library opened in 1884.
It was housed in a law office and the original collection contained 87 single volumes and a few several volume sets.
After a stint at city hall, the library got its own building in 1903.
“President Theodore Roosevelt came on a train and did the groundbreaking and we have the shovel in our heritage room back there, in the genealogy room," Swan said. "In a glass case there’s a spade in there that’s gold and that’s the one he used to break through the ground.”
The library opened in its current location in 1974.
Swan thinks the library now it's more of a community center, a place where everyone feels like they belong.
She said it’s important for libraries to keep changing with the times while continuing to be free to use.
“I just can’t imagine libraries going away. I just think it’s amazing that you know this library is an institution that’s just gonna, it’s just so important in everybody’s hearts," said Swan. "When you ask people why they come to the library, what they love about the library usually is 'I love books or I love reading.'"
To commemorate the day, the library had special activities for children and adults.