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Central Kansas Library System
History of Bison Community Library

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The Bison Community Library was started in approximately 1964 by volunteers, directed by Mary Ann Tanking and Zippa Hall. The Library was housed in one room of the City Hall for two or three years, and was stocked with books donated by Bison residents.

Many volunteers worked at the Librarian's duties during this time, but the Library almost dissolved in 1967, when activities slowed drastically. The Library was moved to the basement of the bank and was opened for one hour each day. The State Library gave $32 a month for support, and this gave a group of five girls payment of $1 an hour for the time they worked in the Library. Records from this time in 1967 through 1973 have unfortunately been misplaced, so details of Library development during these years are sketchy.

The Library was moved to the renovated Community Building and Aura Humburg was appointed Librarian. A great deal of the work was done by the PRIDE Committee with the grant from CKLS. The PRIDE Committee met with Duane Johnson, who is the present Kansas State Librarian.

In 1973 Margaret Holland was appointed Librarian by the City Council. The Library has a summer reading program, a winter story hour for preschoolers, and an annual arts and crafts show, as well as an ever-increasing stock of books. Many other services are provided through the Library's association with the Central Kansas Library System.

Bison Library 1987
1987 picture of Bison Community Library


Bison Library 2006
2006 picture of Bison Community Library
Last Updated 07-2006
E-mail comments or corrections to crippel@ckls.org