As the oldest library system in the State of Iowa Scott County Library System’s mission is to make available library materials and information in a variety of formats to people of all ages. This is accomplished through their staff, collections, current technology, comfortable and accessible facilities at 6 branch locations and its traveling bookmobile. The System is headquartered in Eldridge, Iowa, with branch locations in: Blue Grass, Buffalo, Durant, Princeton, and Walcott.
History
editBefore the Scott County Library system was established the Bookmobile went into operation on a voluntary basis. The Scott County Bookmobile, Inc. was organized June 16, 1947 and was dedicated as a memorial to students, educators and service men on October 3rd. Edna Spies served as the President, driver, and librarian of the organization until the March of 1950. Other officers were:
- Wesley Schmalz (Princeton) - Vice President
- Fred Bolte (Blue Grass) - Secretary
- Laverna Wriedt (Walcott) - Treasurer
- Roy Curtis (Princeton) - Director
- Jean Carlin (Maysville) - Director
- Erwin Allbee (Blue Grass) - Director
In 1948 petitions were presented to the county board of supervisors requesting tax support for the library, and in the 1948 elections the people of Scott County voted in favor of the proposal. In January of 1950 these funds were used to lease the Eckermann Implement building in Eldridge, with the intention that it would serve the bookmobile. The 25x52 foot one room library was remodeled, shelving was installed to house 6,000 books, and a garage for the bookmobile was constructed. By April of 1950 4,000 books had been received and processed by Elizabeth Hage and her staff of three. The library continued to grow and thrive, registering 643 patrons by August of that year.
Soon arrangements were made with Scott County Bookmobile, Inc to gain access to the unit's mobile library. In May of 1950 the Bookmobile began to serve all 16 communities in Scott County, visiting three or more towns per day. Throughout the summer the Bookmobile had a singular purpose of providing interesting reading to adults and children in the rural communities; but in the fall through winter it serviced 110 schools throughout Scott County.
It didn't take long for a precursor to the branch system to be established. Soon library stations across the county were created. These stations would be open certain designated hours of each day and the amount of books each library contained was decided by the size of the community. Princeton became the first such library station in July of 1950 after a vote of the city council to furnish space in the city hall. Volunteers were soon selected to act as attendants to the new "branch" of the Scott County Library System. Blue Grass, LeClaire, Walcott, Ridgeview, Buffalo, Durant, New Liberty, Parkview, and Long Grove soon followed Princeton's example and opened branches of their own to house materials.
Since these branches opened in the early 1950's several branches have either closed, merged, or separated themselves from the Scott County Library System. Bettendorf and Davenport eventually left the system as their communities grew larger and they no longer needed the support of the county system. LeClaire broke off from the Scott County system when a generous donation made out to "The LeClaire Library System" was left in a will; unfortunately since there was no "Leclaire Library System" at the time they faced a difficult choice, leave the county system and accept the donation or stay with the county and lose access to the donation, they chose the later and have since closed down. The library system still maintains large headquarters in Eldridge, along with branches in Blue Grass, Buffalo, Durant, Princeton, and Walcott.
Contact Information
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Headquarters Address:
200 North Sixth Avenue
Eldridge IA 52748
Phone: 563-285-4794
Fax: 563-285-4743
Additional Contact information can be found at http://scottcountylibrary.org/contactus.php
Branch Hours and Information
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Blue Grass Branch
114 N. Mississippi Street
Blue Grass Iowa 52726
Buffalo Branch
329 Dodge Street
Buffalo Iowa 52728
Durant Branch
402 6th Street
Durant Iowa 52747
Eldridge Branch
200 North Sixth Avenue
Eldridge Iowa 52748
Princeton Branch
328 River Drive
Princeton Iowa 52768
Walcott Branch
207 South Main Street
Walcott Iowa 52773
Bookmobile