History was the focus of the Kewanee Public Library’s open house celebrating their 150th year of serving the community. The event, hosted by Friends of the Library, was held on Sunday, Oct. 26 and activities were held on all three levels of the building.
In the basement, the Kewanee Community Choir performed and guests could help themselves to cookies that have been popular throughout the decades.
Susan Carlson, information services associate, said the basement is one of the newer sections of the library, having opened up 25 years ago. The basement includes books and reference material but also houses computers where patrons can use the library’s internet.
Carlson said several out-of-town visitors to the library’s open house were shocked to see what’s been done to the lower floor, which wasn’t open to the public when they were growing up.
On the main floor of the library, Friends of the Library members, such as Barbara Morrison, greeted guests. Historical displays were placed around the library including a timeline of the library and its renovations over the years as well as a list of former library directors.
And one former director, Barbara Love, made an appearance at the anniversary celebration. Love was the director from 2017 until she retired in 2022.
Upstairs in the children’s room, the Kewanee High School Choir performed numbers such as Baba Yetu. When they weren’t performing, choir members joined in the fun by coloring activity sheets.
The open house was a way for the community to mark and celebrate the community contributions of the Kewanee Public Library.
Linnea Gustafson, a member of the Community Choir said she has many memories of utilizing the library growing up.
“I remember coming here as a kid,” she said.
Gustafson also remembers using the card catalog to look up books, a thing of the past.
“Now you can look it all up online,” she said.
