New Inland Noirthwest Milestones Series Begins with Library

The library was housed for a time on the second floor of the Exchange

Bank, now a local coffee shop. (Retouched photo.)

The history of the Coeur d’Alene Public Library will be featured Thursday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m., as regional historian Robert Singletary begins a new Inland Northwest Milestones series in the Community Room.
The series, featuring the people, events, and developments that shaped the region, is presented in partnership with the Museum of North Idaho, where Singletary is the director of marketing and programming, with additional support from the Friends of the Library.
The new series will continue through May and is scheduled for the fourth Thursday of the month at the same time and location.
The library was founded by the Coeur d’Alene Woman’s Club. The club was organized in 1904 and the following year asked the community to contribute books, magazines, and subscriptions for a new public library at a reception in what was then called Blackwell Park.
The Coeur d’Alene Public Library opened its doors in the store of E.B. Keller and Co. two doors east of the intersection of Fourth Street and Sherman Avenue. Owners E.B. Keller and Charles Dittmore donated three shelves. Miss Anna Elderkin was in charge of the Library – open 2-4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
The library went on to occupy a series of buildings – none of which was designed to be a library – until the current building was constructed in 2007.
The library became a department of the City of Coeur d’Alene in 1909 when it was housed in the City Hall building built the year before on Sherman Avenue.
The Museum of North Idaho is located at 115 Northwest Blvd. in front of the Coeur d'Alene City Park. It is open Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 1 to Oct. 31. The museum library and office are open by appointment year round. For more information call 208-664-3448.

Click here for the full history of the library.