{M3 Video: Waverly library celebrates 150th »

WAVERLY -- Some early settlers in Bremer County shared a belief.

So in 1857, community leaders established a subscription library. Ten years later, they transformed its mission.

"A free public library grew up in Waverly on the wings of the religious reform movement. Members believed that education would make our community stronger," said Sarah Meyer-Reyerson, director of the Waverly Public Library.

As the library -- the sixth oldest in Iowa -- celebrates an important milestone, its leader notes a common thread running through the decades.

"The complex collection and resources at the Waverly Public Library today are a much different entity than the pooled assets of a small group of residents 150 years ago," Meyer-Reyerson said. "But the spirit behind the actions of those residents still lives in all the opportunities offered to Waverly."

High-minded members of the Waverly Temperance Reform Club met in home parlors, sharing books, newspapers and dreams for a public library. In those days, stagecoaches delivered much-anticipated publications. According to library archives, men read newspapers and ladies shared women's magazines.

In 1867, the First Baptist Church provided the original public reading room. Young boys could enter if they talked in whispers. Adult favorites were "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne and "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville.

"We still have a number of books written 150 years ago on the shelves," Meyer-Reyerson said.

The collection was housed in several locations, including the Broadie's Drug Store at 120 E. Bremer Ave., now Love & Lace.

In 1904, the board of trustees received an unexpected offer from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, a tycoon living in Philadelphia. He said he would donate $10,000 for a building if the library was free. The building went up a year later at 100 Second St.

A third of the books were in the children's room.

Jim Rathe, 79, of Waverly, remembers visiting Saturday morning during story hours in the 1930s with his mother.

"As I got a little older and learned to read, I visited regularly and checked out the two-book limit," Rathe said. "Later in grade school, I would read two books overnight and be back for more the next afternoon after school."

Arlene Russell, librarian from 1937 to 1954, began what became a long-standing practice of inviting school classes to the library on a regular basis. Waverly Public Library in 2007 also offers storytime for toddlers up to 3 years old from 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. Tuesday and for preschool students from 10:10 to 10:50 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday.

Susan Reiher has been the children's librarian for 30 years and is a storyteller with theatrical flare. Her stage is on the floor with kids.

Jen Tatroe of Waverly and her son, Ty, are regular visitors.

"When we come to the library for toddler time, he seems to pay more attention. Sue reads with so much enthusiasm," Tatroe said.

As circulation grew, officials realized the community needed greater access to more books. Under the direction of Marge Humby, director from 1958 to 1973, the Waverly Public Library became one of the first in Iowa to join a consortium sharing resources through an interlibrary loan program.

"The library will order any book I want. They are really good about that," said Richard Pinkley, retired principal at St. Paul's Lutheran School in Waverly.

Two bond referendums for a new building failed in the early 1960s. A third in 1966 for $98,000 passed by a large majority. Federal funds and private donations helped finance a wrap-around addition completed two years later.

The first computer arrived in the early 1980s, a gift from Lutheran Mutual Insurance, said Patricia Coffee, library director from 1976 to 2005. Today, the library offers 15 computers for public use, has wireless Internet access, leads basic computer classes and has interactive video conferencing rooms.

In 1996, Waverly residents approved a $2 million bond issue, allowing construction of the building at 1500 W. Bremer Ave. Organizers collected an additional $1.5 million in grants and donations. Construction finished two years later.

The Waverly Public Library lists 17,474 cardholders, and on average, 53 people visit every hour.

Reiher said the core mission after 150 years is the same.

"Waverly has been very supportive of the library as a place for information and ideas, and as new technologies evolve, the library has been quick to embrace those technologies but still remaining the place where you can come and get a good book to read."

Contact Gloria Aleff at newsroom@wcfcourier.com.