Larson Memorial Public Library History 

Larson Memorial Public Library has had a long history of serving the community. Many buildings later and not having a home it is currently located at the corner of Woodland Rd and Highway 260. Turn north on at the light and make a left at the 4-way stop.

Throughout its existence the Larson Memorial Public Library has demonstrated a long tradition of community support, community involvement, and forward-facing vision. In the early 1930's, at the urging of Wallace H. Larson, local residents staged dinners, dances, and sales to raise the funds necessary to purchase a private book collection of 3,000 volumes.

The first public library was housed in the typing-bookkeeping classroom at the school and was proudly considered a fine community asset. Unfortunately the school building burned down two years later and most of the books were lost. But Larson and other local residents kept the library tradition alive in town by acquiring their own books and lending them to their neighbors.

For the next twenty years, during that hard period of the depression and world war, the Pinetop-Lakeside area was home to the first virtual library -no building, no actual volumes, but a strong community library with a commitment to learning and to the individual. In 1954, after the death of Mr. Larson, friends and neighbors thought the best way to honor this pioneer who had committed his life to improving his community (he was an educator, legislator, and activist working to bring piped water and electricity into local homes) was to sponsor a new library.

Again, donations were solicited, a log credit was established with the sawmill, and labor pledges were taken. In 1955 the second public library opened its doors in the old red stone building at the Lakeside school. Incredibly, it also burned down two years later. This time, though, most of the books and furniture were saved.

For the next fourteen years the Lakeside "library without wall" was lodged in a variety of locations, courtesy of the community. On occasion it could be found in the LDS Church basement, different private homes, classrooms, and the "long building on the curve". Finally construction of our current building was begun in 1969. Because of community donations and fund-raising efforts, the doors opened in 1971. Since 1971, the town's people have also, added an additional room, porch, ramp, and large storeroom. The Larson Memorial Public Library is greatly indebted to the community for its existence and is truly an expression of local values.

Larson Library is currently involved in some major changes. We are adding a rather large addition to our library, we have recently received 3 computers for the Internet, and we have many more new developments that will make our library more accessiblefor you.

This is the view from the east side.

This is a large step for our little library. Throughout its history it has always been a community library and it is only because of the community that our library is getting this great expansion. This expansion will increase the amount of information available. Our plans are to have at least six computers for the Internet, a docking bay for laptops, resource centers, an expanded children's section, and of course more books to better help. All books will also be on a computerized card catalogue that will make finding a book much easier.