A BRIEF HISTORY OF LEABURG LIBRARY
The Leaburg Library was established in the fall of 1983 and has been providing continuous library service for local residents ever since. There had been several previous attempts to have a library in the old schoolhouse building but none were successful until Ruth Mills and Rita Stadel took over the project. It began as an all-volunteer, free library, stocked with donated books on donated bookshelves, with basic maintenance work provided by members of the community. Our status has not changed over the years. We charge no fees of any kind, and have no regular income. The McKenzie Rural Fire District owns the building, allows free use, and helps us with repairs and maintenance when needed. What income we do have comes from fundraisers, the sale of duplicate books and the three-volume sets of Historic Leaburg booklets, which were compiled and published by the volunteers from 1986 to 1993.
In the beginning, there were eight volunteers. Today there are sixteen regular volunteers, a Director, a Children’s Librarian, and a six-member Library Board. The library offers year-round programming for adults and children, as well as special events and activities, all free of charge. We are open Monday – Thursday from 1:30 – 4pm, and on Saturday from 10 am – 1 pm, serving residents from Cedar Flat to Blue River.
Over the years, the library has expanded from one to six rooms: the Main Room which houses fiction, audiotapes and DVDs; the Annex where non-fiction, reference materials, magazines and displays are located; the bright and colorful Children’s Room which has books, magazines, videos and audiotapes for children and young adults; the “Kitchen” which houses a marvelous collection of books on wines of the world, and an equally fascinating collection of mostly French Cook Books; a History Room where you'll find antique books, artifacts and historical accounts of the McKenzie River Valley; and “Angler's Roost” which houses a unique collection of rare and collectible books on fly fishing, arguably the best collection of its kind in the area.
Approximately 20,000 volumes are housed in these rooms. Although nearly all of the books have been donated, the collection is amazingly well-rounded with something for every taste. We have two computers with high-speed internet access, Wi-Fi, and a copier, all provided through the generosity of some of our patrons.
The building has been home to various groups and organizations which have used the Annex and the downstairs rooms for their activities. The Walterville Preschool operated there for many years, and groups such as AA and Garden Club met there. Currently, the Leaburg Bookworms Book Club meets once a month in the Annex, a Meditation Group meets once a week also in the Annex, during the school year Girl Scouts meet in the Children's Room, and the McKenzie Fire and Rescue firemen conduct rookie training sessions on the lower level.
As the 1923 vintage building ages, maintenance issues become increasingly troublesome and costly. Since we have no regular income, we must rely on occasional fundraisers and/or donated time and materials to take care of necessary repairs. In 1994, library volunteers and members of the McKenzie River Lions Club coordinated an appeal for funds to paint the exterior of the building. They collaborated again in 1999 for a new roof. In 2009, another fundraising appeal netted enough money to repaint the exterior of the building and to temporarily repair some breakdowns in the plumbing.
In the fall of 2010, the McKenzie Rural Fire District paid for the installation of a new roof which has eliminated the leaks that threatened the collection in the history section of the main room. And in 2018, the Fire District also installed heating/air conditioning units in the rooms, and replaced all of the old windows with double-pane, energy-efficient windows, making the library much more comfortable and welcoming.
In 2013, to mark the library’s 30th anniversary, a high-end auction was held to not only raise money for operating expenses, but also to celebrate the happy occasion. The community was remarkable in their support, and the evening brought in over $12,000.00!
In late summer of 2020, in the midst of the COVID Pandemic, a mail-in fundraiser netted the astonishing total of $10,429.00, again proving the incredible support provided by patrons of the library.
We are very grateful to the local residents and to our benefactors for their generous response to these efforts. Hopefully with such determined cooperation, the library will continue to serve all who live in the valley of the beautiful McKenzie.
Marty Mealey, Director
Updated - March 2022
In the beginning, there were eight volunteers. Today there are sixteen regular volunteers, a Director, a Children’s Librarian, and a six-member Library Board. The library offers year-round programming for adults and children, as well as special events and activities, all free of charge. We are open Monday – Thursday from 1:30 – 4pm, and on Saturday from 10 am – 1 pm, serving residents from Cedar Flat to Blue River.
Over the years, the library has expanded from one to six rooms: the Main Room which houses fiction, audiotapes and DVDs; the Annex where non-fiction, reference materials, magazines and displays are located; the bright and colorful Children’s Room which has books, magazines, videos and audiotapes for children and young adults; the “Kitchen” which houses a marvelous collection of books on wines of the world, and an equally fascinating collection of mostly French Cook Books; a History Room where you'll find antique books, artifacts and historical accounts of the McKenzie River Valley; and “Angler's Roost” which houses a unique collection of rare and collectible books on fly fishing, arguably the best collection of its kind in the area.
Approximately 20,000 volumes are housed in these rooms. Although nearly all of the books have been donated, the collection is amazingly well-rounded with something for every taste. We have two computers with high-speed internet access, Wi-Fi, and a copier, all provided through the generosity of some of our patrons.
The building has been home to various groups and organizations which have used the Annex and the downstairs rooms for their activities. The Walterville Preschool operated there for many years, and groups such as AA and Garden Club met there. Currently, the Leaburg Bookworms Book Club meets once a month in the Annex, a Meditation Group meets once a week also in the Annex, during the school year Girl Scouts meet in the Children's Room, and the McKenzie Fire and Rescue firemen conduct rookie training sessions on the lower level.
As the 1923 vintage building ages, maintenance issues become increasingly troublesome and costly. Since we have no regular income, we must rely on occasional fundraisers and/or donated time and materials to take care of necessary repairs. In 1994, library volunteers and members of the McKenzie River Lions Club coordinated an appeal for funds to paint the exterior of the building. They collaborated again in 1999 for a new roof. In 2009, another fundraising appeal netted enough money to repaint the exterior of the building and to temporarily repair some breakdowns in the plumbing.
In the fall of 2010, the McKenzie Rural Fire District paid for the installation of a new roof which has eliminated the leaks that threatened the collection in the history section of the main room. And in 2018, the Fire District also installed heating/air conditioning units in the rooms, and replaced all of the old windows with double-pane, energy-efficient windows, making the library much more comfortable and welcoming.
In 2013, to mark the library’s 30th anniversary, a high-end auction was held to not only raise money for operating expenses, but also to celebrate the happy occasion. The community was remarkable in their support, and the evening brought in over $12,000.00!
In late summer of 2020, in the midst of the COVID Pandemic, a mail-in fundraiser netted the astonishing total of $10,429.00, again proving the incredible support provided by patrons of the library.
We are very grateful to the local residents and to our benefactors for their generous response to these efforts. Hopefully with such determined cooperation, the library will continue to serve all who live in the valley of the beautiful McKenzie.
Marty Mealey, Director
Updated - March 2022