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History The John Trigg Ester Library started its days as the Ester Republic Reading Room, back in 1999, with a collection of dumpster-dived books provided by Frank Therrell and a cozy flower-print couch donated by Lisa Sporleder. After a year, it became a separate library, with Peggy Dunwoodie and Deirdre Helfferich as the librarians. The library has been housed in Therrell's house on the lower level since opening. |  | |||||
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(photo by Frank Therrell, taken circa winter 2000) | ||||||
The library was named after John Trigg in due to his fondness for books, and his creation of a book exchange in the Golden Eagle Saloon next door. Many of the books in the library once belonged to John, and were donated after his death. John's family continues to be a major sponsor of the library. Frank Therrell, the landlord, hired carpenters to build the shelves now in the library, dramatically increasing the space available. Library patrons were discommoded for a few months, and the grand move of many many boxes of books in the spring and then again in the fall took the assistance of several stalwart people. It was clear, however, that the library was growing and would need to expand. The library joinied the Ester Community Association in 2004, which approved the idea of buying land and constructing a library building. To help fund this, the Library Lallapalooza & Book Bashes were instituted, the first one in 2005. By 2006, the library shelves were once again overflowing. The two previous years' lallapaloozas had raised enough money that, when land on Village Road was found, the ECA was able to purchase and lease property. For a couple of years, extra boxes of books were stored in the Old Ester Post Office, until that was sold in 2008. The library became an independent entity once again in 2009, holding its first annual meeting in October, adopting bylaws and electing a board of directors. The board immediately started seeking large construction grants. In November of 2009, the library officially became a state-recognized nonprofit corporation. More on the library's history can be found in the 2010 Annual Report in the Marketing Report and the History Update, presented at the 2010 Annual Membership Meeting. | ||||||
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