On January 8, 1886, a group of pioneer women intent on improving the cultural climate of a five year old town in Dakota Territory committed themselves to this task by establishing the Ladies Library Association of Howard. Charter No. one was delivered to this group, establishing the first recognized library in Dakota Territory. The success and need of this venture were recognized when, just three years later, the City of Howard took over the financial and operational responsibility for the Free Public Library of Howard.

For the first six years of its existence, the library consisted of only a bookcase in a corner of Mr. Boles General Store. Two days a week, the librarian would come for a couple of hours, open the doors of the bookcase and the library was in business circulating its limited number of books.

Fires were common and disastrous in the new West where hastily constructed business places gave more thought to being of service to the pioneers than to properly housing the goods they sold. And so it was in Mr. Boles store. On September 26, 1892, an extensive Main Street fire totally destroyed his building and with it the Free Public Library’s bookcase, books, and records.

Eleven books were in circulation that day, and from that meager beginning, the Board of Trustees of the Howard Public Library began again. Within four months new books were purchased and processed and a new bookcase obtained. This time the library was established in a corner of the City Jail, a small square brick building off Main Street. This building had been bought by the city in 1888, and housed the City Council room. Beginning on January 21, 1893, the Howard Public Library began a stay in that building which was to last for 74 years.

At one time in the early 1900’s the Board corresponded with the Carnegie Corporation in regard to having them build us a library as they did in so many communities throughout the United States. A successful election was held in the city to receive public approval for this venture. Land was purchased ( NE corner of Washington & Main), plans were drawn and steps were being taken slowly, but surely, when World War I put a stop to many philanthropic ventures. Correspondence was resumed in 1924 and 1926 but the Carnegie funds were no longer available.

In 1935 the City Jail was moved to another location and plans to use the whole building were discussed with the City Council. It took two years before the Council agreed to remodel, but in September 1937 the decision was made, and on January 8, 1938 the library started the New Year with more room and needed new shelves. Minutes of the Board of Trustees show that this remodeling project was not fully paid for until 1945, following World War II.

This building served the citizens of Howard in varied capacities in the course of many years. As a library it helped to expand the education of our people, inform them of current events through its periodicals, provide restful leisure activity and act as a storehouse of knowledge, ready when needed.

In February 1967, the Howard Public Library was moved from a building it had occupied for seventy-four years to the SW half of the new Municipal building on Main Street. It was right up town for easy access of the public. When the library was moved from its historic location to a room in the New Municipal Building, it took off on a growing binge that was most encouraging to Board Members and the community. The book collection has grown steadily; much weeding has been carried on during the last 20 years so that the collection is over eighty percent new in this period. Total collection in 1987 is over 15,000 books and materials. In her 22 years as Librarian, beginning in June 1965, Gloria Faye Truman believes she had the privilege of being Librarian through some of the most exciting years of the library’s growth and expansion.

The library is proud of the fact that the minutes of the Library Board meetings have been preserved and are on hand since the first meetings held by the Ladies Library Association in 1885 and 1886. In 1889 when the first Board of Directors took over the operation of the library from the Ladies Library Association, the follwing passage occurs in the secretary’s book: "We pledge ourselves severally to guard the trust committed to us, and to the best of our ability the good work commenced by them." The present Board of Trustees feels that they can do no less.

Howard Public Library is the first Chartered Public Library in South Dakota. Trustee Board Chairman Anna Mumford accepted a plaque from South Dakota Library Association in October 1962 that reads: Howard Dakota Territory First Public Library Chartered 1-8-1886. The Library celebrated its 100 years of continued service in 1987 with Open House in January and many special events all year.

After moving to its location in the Municipal Building, the old building was a subject of several meetings, some wishing to use it for a museum, but operation of such on a volunteer basis without a Historical Society ws deemed impossible. The Miner County Art Club used the building for about a two years. The City waited for a period of 3 years after the library moved, and when no independent citizen action was taken, they had the building appraised, offered it for bids, to be removed. The Board of Trustees of the Public Library, at the suggestion of Ada Gehring, joined with the Miner County Art Club to submit a bid for the building with the intention of donating it to Prairie Village in Madison. This action was taken independent of Board business, no City money being used, board members acting individually. The bid was successful, and after a wait of almost five years the building was moved. The Bill of Sale was officially transferred to Prairie Village on July 30, 1974, with the following individuals responsible for this historical gift: Ada Gehring, V.J. Protsch, Lynn Kalvig, Phyllis Lauer, Morris Corey, Gloria Faye Truman, and Miner County Art Club by Lynn Kalvig, President, and Lily Lund ,Secretary.