On September 15,1900, public library service began in Alliance.
Under the guidance of librarian Henry “Harry” Griffith, a reading room was opened inside the original Alliance High School, located at Broadway and Arch Street, that served the community as a secondary school between 1887 and 1910. The room was open from 2 to 5 p.m. daily and every resident of Alliance was entitled to use the more than 600 books available in the high school facility.
As the library became more popular, funds were secured from industrialist Andrew Carnegie to build a Carnegie Free Library near the high school along Arch Street. That facility was dedicated on September 6, 1904 and served the community well.
However, the community outgrew the building and the need for a larger facility became apparent. In December 1956, Alliance industrialist C.J. Rodman pledged a gift of $250,000, if the community could raise funds to match it. On May 2, 1961, ground was broke on the site of Hazel Park, named for Rodman’s wife. On February 10, 1963, a formal dedication was held for the building that still proudly serves the people of the greater Alliance community.
To learn more about the history of library service in Alliance, register to attend “Marking 125 Years of Library Service in Alliance,” presented by Jack Weber, community relations manager at Rodman Public Library at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 23.