Drawing of the Kenai bluff by James Evenson
Welcome to the Kenai Community Library
163 Main Street Loop, Kenai AK 99611
Telephone
907-283-4378 Fax 907-283-2266
| Home | Library catalog | Library catalog - for use inside the Library building | Newspaper & magazine articles | Internet resources |
Brief History of the Kenai Community Library
The Kenai Community Library had its beginning in the hall of the Kenai
Territorial School with a dedicated group of volunteers and a small collection
of donated books. In 1949 a Board of Trustees was formally incorporated
under the provisions of Chapter 6 of the Session Laws of 1933. The library
collection was moved into the Civic Center when it was erected in 1954.
The Civic Center accommodated the City Hall, the Court System, social
and civic groups, a church and the library. The library staff pushed the
book stacks on dollies against the walls when the various groups met,
then returned them to the center of the room to operate on Thursdays,
the only day the library was open.
The library had been a volunteer organization existing on donations and
fundraisers until 1968 when the City of Kenai contributed a $500 grant.
In 1969 the City’s support increased to $3,500 with an annual salary
of $450 for the librarian.
Following a request by the Board of Trustees, the City of Kenai assumed
full responsibility for the library in 1972. The Board of Trustees remained
in an advisory capacity and volunteers continued to provide thousands
of hours to maintain the library operation and fund raising. The first
5000 square feet of the present building was constructed in 1976 using
money from state and local sources. In 1985, a 5000 square foot addition
was constructed using both federal and state funds. The City of Kenai
funded the planning and design process.
Today the library employs a full time director and six employees. Volunteers
continue to support the library by giving their time and also through
fundraising. The library is located on Main Street Loop near the Kenai
City Hall, the Post Office and the Court House. The Kenai Community Library
is the largest library on the Central Peninsula with a collection of over
70,000 items. Centrally located off the Kenai Spur Highway the library
serves the entire Peninsula community.