The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
La Harpe residents are thankful for the La Harpe Carnegie Public Library. Several times in its early history, residents made an effort to establish a library, but attempts were in vain. In 1904 the local newspaper brought up the subject again. This time a reader from Macomb read the article and contacted the paper telling them how Macomb had received funds from the Carnegie Foundation to help with their library. He offered instructions on how to go about soliciting Carnegie for funds.
Mrs. Florence Hungate, who was president of the La Harpe Woman's Club, took on the responsibility of gathering information and obtaining the application to apply for the grant.
The application was sent in to Carnegie and the city received a donation of $5,000. They then purchased a corner lot from Mrs. Wolf on August 11, 1905.
A ground breaking ceremony was held at the site. School was dismissed and around 300 students and their teachers and around 500-600 adults attended the ceremony. In his prayer, Reverend Dark asked for God's blessing on this work, and that it benefit mankind through his glory.
On September 25, 1905, the cornerstone was laid and construction began. The overall cost was $5530. The additional cost was raised by money making projects.
The library was named "The La Harpe Carnegie Public Library."
Mr. Carnegie was the richest man in the world after selling his steel business to J.P. Morgan. He then proceeded to give his money away.
He provided around 2800 public libraries throughout the English speaking world, spending over $56 million dollars. La Harpe is blessed to be one of his recipients.
The library was to be, and still is, supported by tax revenues. Carnegie requested it was to always be a free public library to local residents.
Today it is free to over 2200 people in the school district that live in Hancock County.
The library is governed by a seven member Board of Trustees, who are elected by the public.
Nine librarians have served since the beginning.
Currently Monica Carpenter is the Librarian, with two other employees, Erin Nelson and Earlene Mueller.
The library has a over 23,000 books on the shelves, around 50 magazines and periodicals which include The Quill and The Journal Pilot.
They also offer fax service and copy service, and microfilm service to aid in genealogy.
They are a member of Alliance Library System, which includes 262 libraries.
So if you can't find what you are looking for, they may be able to locate it through the loan systems of the other libraries.
Every summer they offer a summer reading program in which over 100 people sign up for.
They are opened 30 hours a week and had almost 8,000 people visit the library last year.
The Library will have an open house on November 29 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon with refreshments.
So, "CHECK IT OUT"!