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.

(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 Ester Community Association approved the idea of buying land and constructing a library building, and 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.

To handle the overflow of donated books in the meantime, the old Ester post office has been rented and is being used as storage until the new library can be built.

Now the library is buckling down to getting the funds and help together to build the new library. If you would like to help, either by donating your money, labor, or materials, or by serving on the proposal team, let the librarians know! (library [ at ] esterrepublic.com)

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