Sunnyside's Carnegie Library
Mrs. Joseph Lanis, wife of the town's first Justice of the Peace, operated a circulating library in a rented building in Sunnyside before the announcement that a $5,000 Carnegie Library would be built if Sunnyside would agree to spend at least $500 annually on library improvements and maintainance. Mrs. Lanin's collection allowed the new library to open with something on the shelves.
The Sunnyside Public Library opened in 1911 at 621 Grant Avenue. The style of the Sunnyside Library reflects the grant’s design restrictions, which were put in place after 1909. The broad overhanging roof and high vaulted ceiling with a ventilated cupula was designed to moderate the temperature inside the building.
Sunnyside Library became affiliated with the Yakima Valley Regional Library in 1956. A new facility was built on the same site in 1965. Sunnyside Library was annexed to the Yakima Valley Rural Library District in 2004.
In 2015, the Sunnyside Library underwent a major remodel, bringing it to the facility it is today.
Ordinance No. 151
Be it ordained by the Town Council of the Town of Sunnyside, Washington:
Section 1. That a free public library is hereby created and established in the Town of Sunnyside, Washington, to be known as Sunnyside Public Library.
Section 2. The management and control of the Public Library shall be vested in a Board of Trustees who shall be appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the Town Council. The Superintendent of the Public Schools of Sunnyside shall be an ex-officio member of such a Board of Trustees.
Section 3. The term of office of such Trustees shall be five years from and after their appointment and confirmation; provided, the terms of the members of the Board first appointed shall be for one, two, three, four and five years respectively and the members of such a board shall be determined by lot whose terms of office shall expire in each year. . . .
Section 4. Said Library is estabglished and this ordinance is passed under and pursuant to the provisions of an Act of the Legislature of the State of Washington, entitled "An Act providing for the establishment and maintenance of public and free libraries . . .
Section 5. A fund is hereby created, to be known as the Sunnyside Public Library Fund, into which shall be paid the moneys realized from the levy and collection of taxes as hereinafter provided, also all moneys turned over to said Board of Trustees for the benefit, or which may arise from the collection of fines, fees or penalties levied and collected in the use and management of said library. . . .
Section 6. There shall be levied in each year, upon all the taxable property in the Town of Sunnyside a tax sufficient . . . for the maintenance and payment of operating expenses of said library . . .
Section 7. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and publication.
Passed by the Town Council this 3rd day of April, 1911.
Approved by the Mayor this 3rd day of April, 1911.
Published April 5th, 1911 in the Sunnyside Sun: An ordinance providing for the establishment of a public library in Sunnyside, Washington.
Interior views of the Sunnyside Public Library, built in 1911 with a $5,000 grant from industrialist Andrew Carnegie. The amount of the grant was based on the size of the population served. The style of the Sunnyside Library reflects the grant’s design restrictions, which were put in place after 1910.
The front service desk in the Sunnyside Public Library was situated to overlook all public areas. Carnegie Libraries introduced self-service by locating the book shelves where readers could browse and select their own books.Before Carnegie, librarians were primarily guardians of the collection. Library books were shelved in closed stacks in a separate room at the back of the library. A library user would go to the delivery desk and ask the librarian to bring out a book. Carnegie Libraries introduced open stacks where library users could browse to find books.
The reading room illustrates some of the design restrictions imposed by the grant. Grand buildings designed to look like classic temples were abandoned in favor of more practical interiors that relied on craftsmanship and use of native materials. Sunnyside Public Library's reading room had timber framing, hand plastered walls, and beautifully inlayed wood flooring.
Sunnyside Library
Sunnyside has passed the stage of a country town and is catalogued as a modern, progressive little city. Why is this true? Because the progressive spirit and sentiment have always prevailed here, and inspired by the spirit, her people have joined hands and shoulder to shoulder labored for all that pertains to religious, moral, social, industrial, educational and material development. Such a community cannot afford to be without a library. Theodore Roosevelt says, “After the church and the schools the free public library is the most effective influence for good in America. The moral, mental and material benefit to be derived from a carefully selected collection of good books, free for the use of all the people, cannot be over estimated,” but however ornamental or attractive the building, it will never become an educational factor without books. The 500 miscellaneous volumes only form a nucleus.
Originally published in the Sunnyside Sun on March 30, 1911
Story hour in the 1950’s era Sunnyside Library Children’s room. Before Carnegie, libraries were designed for adults.Carnegie Libraries were among the first to provide spaces and collection materials dedicated to children. Small scale furniture, lower bookshelves, and story hours were other important innovations.