About the Library

 

Hamburg Public Library Board Members
 

 

The first library in Hamburg dates back to 1886 when the Hamburg School Library was founded. In 1890 that library was destroyed by fire. In January of 1916 Hamburg received funding of $9,000 from Andrew Carnegie for the construction of the Hamburg Public Library. This construction of the new library began in 1917 and the building was dedicated and formally opened on Sunday, June 6, 1919. 

 

Today the Hamburg Public Library is over 100 years old and is located at 1301 Main Street. On May 23, 1983, the Hamburg Public Library was entered on the National Register of Historic Places. 

 

Through a generous donation from the West Trust in 2004, a library automation system was installed. Today's users can access the library’s resources from anywhere.

 

The library was cataloged in 1899, and the volumes numbered 2,057, according to the librarian, Etta Hoke. Today the library houses over 11,000 books, 104 audiobooks, 647 DVD's, and through the State Library of Iowa, we have access to the Bridges consortium with over 85,000 titles and videos available.

 

Previous Library Directors that have served since 1918: A.A. Walburn, Letha Davidson, Ella Beal, Ruth Holmes, Dorothy Castleman, Leonora Clayton, Velma Rageth, Ardith Nook, Melva Cline, Linda Sears, Emily Seeger, Ruth Lauman and Breanna McCreary. Our current Library Director is Ellen Longman and Nancy Middaugh is our Library Assistant.

 

Current programming includes a morning book club, story time for the little ones, an adult coloring group, a group of avid jigsaw puzzlers, and plans for a Summer Reading Program.