RIVERSIDE REGIONAL LIBRARY CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF HISTORY

A stop at the Milheim School west of Biehle in Perry County. Dorothy Hahs was the teacher around 1955.

Rural Bookmobile stop in Cape Girardeau County at Hahs Store in Daisy in the mid-'50s.

Aimee Keillor shows a book to her 6-month-old son Austin at the Riverside Regional Library. (Photos by Scott Moyers)

Lori Wills checks out a book for her son Brandon, 2, and a friends' child, Blake Ballard, 3, from librarian Gaye Smith.

Riverside Regional Library Director Geoffrey Roth and Assistant Director Paula Gresham-Bequette stand beside the display of photographs commemorating the library's first 40 years.

The Jackson Riverside Regional Library has 40 years worth of history between its covers, and the library celebrated that history on Dec. 3.

"There were at least 200 people here," said Geoffrey Roth, library director. "It seemed like a lot more."

There have been a lot of changes in the library since it first opened its doors in 1955. The newest one was the coming of the net.

"Our Internet connection was inaugurated Sunday at the celebration," Roth said. "Our theme was 'From Bookmobile to the Information Superhighway.'"

There was even a bookmobile like the one used in Cape Girardeau, Perry and Scott counties, on display from the Ozark Regional Library in Ironton.

Roth said it's important that Jackson library users have access to "e-mail," "the World-Wide Web" and other Internet applications.

"Information doesn't just exist within the four walls of this building anymore," Roth said.

Those attending the celebration that lasted from 2 to 5 p.m. got to hear welcoming comments by Sara Park, state librarian; Roland Sander, library board president; and Roth.

The public got to view a display of the library's first 40 years as recorded in photographs in the main hallway.

The library's history

The history began in 1955 when support for a county library began to be heard in the early 1950s.

The Women's Extension Club took it upon themselves to publicize the need for a library and the benefits a county library would bring to the Jackson community.

In 1953, a demonstration bookmobile from the Missouri State Library was sent at the request of the Extension clubs. The bookmobile traveled throughout Cape Girardeau, Perry and Scott counties to show what was possible if a library were established.

The bookmobile was staffed by Merribeth Cook, librarian; Harold Tonn, driver; and his wife Mildred, library assistant.

They visited rural schools and set up deposits in stores, post offices, homes and existing public libraries.

In the April 5 election in 1955, the vote was nearly two to one in favor of a tax increase that would provide library service in Cape, Perry and Scott counties with a library board in each county.

The board decided they would best be served by combining tax funding for one regional library that would serve all three counties.

In August 1955, the three boards met as one regional board. Two names for the newly-formed regional library were considered during the early organizational meetings. Finally, the board decided on "Riverside Regional" over "River Hills Regional."

In September, Otto Koenig, a New Madrid librarian was hired as its administrative librarian. Koenig had received his undergraduate education at what is now Southeast Missouri State University. His M.S. degree in library science was from Washington University in St. Louis. He had served as librarian for the New Madrid library from the time of its establishment. Koenig, as were all the applicants was offered a salary range somewhere between $3,800 to $5,500.

The first library was in a basement room of the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse in Jackson, complete with 7,000 books given to the new regional library by the Missouri State Library.

The Board of Trustees wanted time in finding a more satisfactory location and by late November, the Riverside Regional Library was home on north Highway 61.

The bookmobile serviced the rural schools in the three counties as well.

In 1958, due to a rapidly expanding collection of materials, a larger headquarters was required; the new building was completed in the western part of Jackson, the current site of the resource center. That same year, the center was flooded with 42 inches of water, damaging some fo the book and film collection.

In 1971, Otto Koenig retired after 15 years and Earl Oldham became director.

Although the bookmobile's services came to a halt in 1973, many services would soon take its place.

In 1985, books on tape was started at the library. In 1989 audio cassettes provided from a grant.

In 1990, the board first discussed the need for a new central building. Just this year, Riverside attempted to merge with Jackson Public Library in an attempt to better services, but the tax increase it would require was defeated in the polls.