The construction of the new parking ramp on the northeast corner of Thayer Avenue and
Sixth Street has generated a renewed interest in the original Carnegie Library building, which had been located on this site. The Carnegie building replaced a circulating library that had been maintained in the Commercial Club rooms. C. L. Young, president of the Commercial Club, and Commissioner R. C. Battey were instrumental in bringing the dream of a formal library to the city commission. An article in the Bismarck Daily Tribune from October 19, 1915 credited these gentlemen with getting $3,500 appropriated for city library purposes. The article went on to state that “a generous appropriation can be secured from the Carnegie Library Foundation to build an adequate library for the capital city.”
From these humble beginnings, the Bismarck Public Library has grown into the busy hub of learning, technology, and community gathering that it is today. Are you curious about the rest of the story? Plan to attend the presentation on April 8 at 6:30pm. It is sponsored by the Bismarck Historical Society and will be held in Meeting Room A at the Bismarck Public Library.