Craig  Public Library

hISTORY

The Craig Public Library was started in the mid-thirties, probably 1934, when the Vermont Marble Company donated 300 volumes to the town of Craig. The company had closed its Tokeen marble quarry and decided to discontinue having a watchman.

 

The city council had no desire to undertake setting up a library so they turned it over to a group of women who had been meeting as a sewing club. They organized as “The Craig Women’s Club” and with all volunteers set up a library in a small storeroom in the school building, opening for two hours in the afternoon, two days a week.

 

The library operated in the school just one winter, the school then offered to give the Women’s Club a playground equipment storage shed provide they would move it off of the school property.

 

The Women’s Club had to form a corporation in order to hold title to property and as a consequence the Craig Library Association was incorporated on August 21, 1935. The women raised money to purchase property, windows, shelves and equipment – everything to make the shed into a library – by holding raffles, dances, bake sales, bingo games, and any other money raising schemes that members could dream up.

 

The converted playground equipment storage shed, which was about 12 feet by 15 feet, served the community well, if not really adequately, for forty-three years. The present Craig Public Library building was the result of much work by the people of Craig with the help of the Alaska State Library. It was dedicated in February of 1978 and has continuously served the people of Craig and the surrounding communities from that date.

 

Kelly Mackie is the current dedicated full-time librarian.