Ann B. Hutton, Executive Director

Preston commemorated 100 hundred years of library service with a celebration of the past and a look to the future.  Friends and well wishers attended an anniversary party on Saturday, September 27, 2008.  Board President, Robert O'Reilly, served as the gracious emcee.  

 Ila Mae Olstad, Preston resident since birth and long time library user, shared memories from childhood and thanked the numerous individuals and groups for their contributions.  Ila Mae serves as a member of the Preston Public Library Board, the SELCO/SELS Board of Directors and the SELCO Library Foundation Board.

Former library director, Janene Roessler (1994-2007) chronicled the library’s history.  Janene also proclaimed the names of the 14 librarians who have served the community with dedication from 1908 to the present.

As the SELCO Executive Director, I directed attention to the most recent 40 years and the involvement of the Preston Public Library in regional cooperation.  Beth Anderson, current library director, described current library services.  While the adult presentations were informative, the highlight of the event was a special library song sung by some of today’s juvenile library users.

Some of the SELCO–Preston highlights:

Preston joined SELCO.

1974
Participating in the newly created interlibrary loan system, Preston borrowed 62 books from other libraries.  It is important to note that in the intervening years the number of titles shared with and by Preston has grown tremendously.  In 2007, Preston borrowed 2,860 items.  Even more dramatic, is Preston’s lending record.  It regularly lends more to others than it receives and in 2007 lent 5,466 items to other libraries!

December 1975
Preston was among the first of three libraries to participate in the newly created SELCO children’s services programming along with Dodge Center and Lake City.

December 1979
Through SELCO, Preston began offering 8mm and 16mm films for check out.

May 1985
Preston, and 22 other libraries, received SELCO purchased Apple2e computers.  For many this was the first public access computer in the library or the community.

January 1986
Committed to joining SELCO library automation and came an Online Library in March 1987.

1987-1997
Focused on a building expansion project and used SELCO services such as the Space Needs Assessment and Accessibility Access grants from SELCO to define library needs.

1998
Crafted the library’s first written technology plan which included moving from limited access on the SELCO automation system to a full participant.

To the present
Library staff members have been and remain active in SELCO programs and services, through the migration to a new Integrated Library System (ILS) in 2003 to today’s well connected library which offers new formats such as PlayAways.

Congratulations to Preston on its 100 years of local library service and deep appreciation for the 40 years of regional cooperation!